Man charged with violent threat to bystander

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February 23, 2012

Man charged with violent threat to bystander

By Julie Manganis Staff writer The Salem News Thu Feb 23, 2012, 04:30 AM EST

SALEM — A 19-year-old woman who complained when she saw a Salem man buying cigarettes for teenagers at a gas station Friday night found herself with a knife being held to her neck, police said.

James Miglionico, 25, of 12 Palmer St., Salem, is now facing charges of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, the knife that police said they found tucked into his sleeve when they caught up with him a few blocks away after the 9 p.m. incident. He's also charged with violating the city's knife ordinance.

Police were called to the area near the intersection of New Derby and Lafayette streets by witnesses who said they had just watched a man holding a knife to the throat of a woman.

The victim had run in one direction, and the suspect had run toward Pickering Wharf, police said in their report.

Officers split up and found both.

The woman told police that she was at the Hess gas station on New Derby buying something to drink when she noticed Miglionico purchasing cigarettes for teens who were outside.

She told him that what he was doing wasn't right and said she was going to call police. That was when Miglionico pulled the knife on her, holding it to her throat and warning, "I'll slice you," police said.

The woman gave police a description of a man in a Patriots jacket. Police recognized that description, having just interacted with Miglionico earlier in the evening. They spotted him walking on Lafayette Street.

The woman was brought to the area to look at him and identified him as her assailant, police said.

Miglionico was ordered held on $2,500 cash bail following his arraignment Tuesday in Salem District Court. If he makes bail, he will be required to have no contact with the victim.

He's due back in court March 13.

Courts reporter Julie Manganis may be reached at 978-338-2521 or jmanganis@salemnews.com.