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Police: Botched drug sale led to teenager being stabbed

A city man is in jail after police say he stabbed a 17-year-old during a drug sale gone bad.

Andrew S. Oswalt, 22, of 610 32nd St., is accused by Altoona police of stabbing the 17-year-old Feb. 3 in the alley on the 2000 block of Sixth Avenue. He was arraigned last weekô

According to Altoona police, it was 7 p.m. when Oswalt stabbed the 17-year-old in the abdomen after the teenager tried to intervene in a fight between Oswalt and another man. The teen who was stabbed told police Oswalt became worried he was going to get ripped off and that he thought the man who had set up the deal had no drugs and was going to just take Oswaltás money.

An Altoona police detective questioned the man who allegedly set up the drug deal, he allegedly admitted he was going to take Oswaltás money but didnát have any drugs.

Police said before the stabbing Oswalt, the 17-year-old and the man who allegedly set up the deal were driving around together, with the 17-year-old smoking marijuana and Oswalt smoking crack.

Police noted the teen underwent surgery after he was stabbed Feb. 3 so doctors could check his vital organs for injury, and he is now home recovering. The same teen was stabbed in September on the 1200 block of Sixth Avenue during a fight.

Matthew R. Sanderlin, 18, was arrested in that incident and is awaiting trial on aggravated assault charges.

Oswaltás bail was set at $30,000 by Magisterial District Judge Todd Kelly on Wednesday at his arraignment on a charge of felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and terroristic threats.

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