A Tamaqua man has been charged with assault after he allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend with a screwdriver during a dispute.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Sgt. Shawn Nunemacher of the Lansford Police Department:

At around 12:30 p.m. March 22, Nunemacher received a walk-in complaint from the victim, who said that her ex, Bruce Smith Jr., 35, stabbed her in the arm.

The victim said that at around 7 a.m. that day, Smith showed up at her residence to pick up a TV.

She said Smith got angry with her because she would not get back into a relationship with him, and he got a screwdriver and stabbed her in the arm.

The victim showed her arm, and Nunemacher could clearly see a stab wound and bruising. She said Smith then took the screwdriver and cut his own arm.

The victim said she then went to Walmart and Smith followed her there.

She then returned home and received a message from Smith stating he was going to the police station to turn himself in.

The victim said she found the blue GMC sitting in Marco’s parking lot that she said was in both her and Smith’s names.

Officers then looked in the parking lot and found the vehicle. While checking the area for Smith, he was found walking east in the 100 block of West Patterson Street.

When Smith saw officers, he put his head down and looked away, but officers stopped and asked if his name was Bruce.

Smith hesitated, then admitted that was his name, and he was asked to pull up his sleeve and did so. He had several cut marks on his left forearm.

Nunemacher asked Smith how he got these marks and he said someone did it to him.

Smith was then taken into custody and transported back to the station where he was read his Miranda Rights and agreed to speak with officers.

Smith said he stayed at the victim’s home the night before and found that she was messaging another man and he became upset.

Smith said he asked the victim about the messages and then cut his own arm with a screwdriver and left the house.

Smith said he was then asked to meet the victim at Walmart, but then changed his statement and said it was at the Dollar Store because she was already leaving.

Smith admitted he told the victim that he was coming to the police to turn himself in, and when asked why, he said he did nothing wrong and was attempting to scare the victim into being with him.

Smith said he got the screwdriver from the victim’s home.

Smith had numerous slash marks on his left forearm consistent with self-inflicting, and said he may have cut the victim by mistake when he was cutting his own arm because he was sitting beside her.

Smith then changed his statement to he did not know how the victim got cut.

Smith faces charges of aggravated assault and simple assault.

He is currently incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 monetary bail, and is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing May 6 before District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek of Lansford.