LEWISTOWN — Dustin James Hower, 34, of McClure, was arrested Monday and charged with criminal homicide and aggravated assault for attacking another man with a machete, according to court documents.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, on Sunday evening just before 9:30 p.m., police were dispatched for a disturbance. A neighbor told police his neighbors were fighting and that he heard loud screams.

According to police, Hower was found with a machete in his left hand and a pocket knife in his pocket in the apartment stairwell. Police apprehended Hower at gunpoint before he was taken to the Mifflin County Correctional Facility.

When police interviewed the neighbor, he recalled hearing banging noises next door. Then he heard a woman’s voice screaming “stop Dustin!” He then saw a man with a machete outside as the woman was screaming at him.

According to the affidavit, police interviewed the accuser’s girlfriend with whom the accuser lives. She said she and Hower were in a relationship for 16 years and broke up months ago. She told police she started dating the accuser and Hower didn’t like the idea.

According to police, the accuser’s girlfriend said there were loud bangs at the door while she and the accuser were hanging out. She said Hower broke in and started hitting the accuser with a machete. She told police she heard Hower say, “You used to be my best friend, and you took my girlfriend and wife.” She told police Hower stopped and calmed down once she told him the police were coming. She said Hower did threaten to kill the accuser before but didn’t hear Hower say it during the assault.

Police then interviewed the accuser at Geisinger-Lewistown Hospital. According to court documents, he told police he was hanging out with his girlfriend when he heard a knock at the door. He went to answer it and was struck with a machete. He told police he was fighting for his life, was struck with the machete three times in the head area and had a few cuts on his hands from holding the blade back. He then told police Hower stopped and said “I’m so sorry” after being told the police were called.

According to the affidavit, police interviewed Hower who said he used to be friends with the accuser when he and the accuser’s girlfriend were dating. He told police he didn’t remember going to her apartment that night and has no memory of having his machete in hand. He told police all he remembers is being “smacked” in the face by the accuser before walking outside and seeing police.

According to police, Hower stated he had switched to a new medication recently for treatment of seizures. He also stated to police he owns a machete that fit the description. Hower told police he wouldn’t deny what he had done because he was there. According to the affidavit, Hower said to police he didn’t remember where he parked his car at the apartment or where he left his machete.

Hower is facing charges of criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, burglary, criminal trespassing, simple assault, terroristic threats, two counts of recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Hower has been transferred to the Mifflin County Correctional Facility and has been denied bail. Magisterial district judges are not permitted to grant bail to those charged with homicide.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 5 before Magisterial District Judge Jonathan W. Reed.