PARIS — A Rumford man accused of stabbing 34-year Andrew Baker eight times during an altercation Monday evening appeared in 11th District Court on Wednesday afternoon. 

Erik B. Hanson, 27, faces a charge of elevated aggravated assault in the incident, which occurred at about 3 p.m. on Waldo Street in Rumford, according to a report by Rumford police Sgt. Tracey Higley.

According to the report, Baker was stabbed eight times in the torso, leg and arm. 

Aaron Stone, Hanson’s brother, who police said was involved in the altercation, also appeared in court on two charges of unpaid fines. He was released Wednesday after rescheduling his payment. 

According to Higley’s report, officers were dispatched to 318 Waldo St. on Monday afternoon for reports of a dispute. When they arrived, they found Baker lying on the ground bleeding from multiple stab wounds. Witnesses at the scene told police Hanson stabbed Baker and fled in a red vehicle. 

Baker was transported to Rumford Hospital and later flown to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston.

Police recovered the knife believed to have been used in the incident at the scene, according to the report.

In a police interview prior to his transfer to CMMC, Baker said he watched Hanson pull up to the apartment of his longtime girlfriend he had broken up with recently. A heated exchange between Baker and Hanson escalated until Baker started hitting Hanson’s car, he said. At that time, Stone approached Baker and the two started fighting, he said, according to the Higley’s report.

A bystander was attempting to break the men up when Hanson got out of his vehicle and began hitting him, Baker told police. During the altercation Hanson began stabbing Baker while Stone held him, Baker said. After stabbing him a few times Hanson ran back to his car and drove away, Baker told police.

Higley’s report said Hanson and Stone were located by police while he was at the hospital with Baker and interviewed separately. 

On Tuesday, Rumford police Chief Stacy Carter said Hanson was brought to the Police Department and interviewed by Bernard and Maine State Police Detective John Hainey. 

In an interview with Rumford police Sgt. James Bernard, Hanson admitted to stabbing Baker but said he had “blacked out” and didn’t remember what happened, according to police. Hanson told police he remembered punching Baker in the face but because of his adrenaline did not realize he had stabbed him, police said.

Hanson told Bernard he owned a knife and described the one used in the stabbing.

According to the report, Hanson said he fled the scene but later decided to turn himself in. Hanson was allowed to leave after being interviewed.

On Tuesday afternoon, Hanson and Stone were arrested and transported to the Oxford County Jail in South Paris.

Bail for Hanson is set at $20,000 cash or $100,000 property bail. As of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Hanson had not been bailed out, according to a representative from the jail. 

Hanson is due to appear in Oxford County Superior Court in October. 

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