Salem police officers arrested a man in connection with a stabbing that left a teenager with life-threatening injuries in south Salem Friday night.

Jason D. M. Alberts, 45, of Salem, is accused of stabbing a 19-year-old man during a fight in the parking lot outside of a dentist’s office on Friday, March 20, according to a statement by the Salem Police Department.

Alberts is facing charges of first- and fourth-degree assault, Marion County Circuit Court records show.

The victim suffered life-threatening injuries but survived after receiving medical treatment at Salem Hospital, police said. Court records identified him as Dominic Burkhardt.

Alberts’ home address is in Corvallis, court records show. Police listed the victim as transient, according to a document in support of Alberts’ arrest.

Around 10:24 p.m. Friday, a witness called 911 after hearing the sounds of a physical fight in the parking lot of Sitnik Dental, which is located at 3275 Liberty Rd. S., the document said.

Responders arrived at the scene at 10:30 p.m., dispatch records show.

At the scene, two people “appeared to be wrapped around each other” as several others stood and watched, the document said.

A police officer told the people to separate. One of the men, identified later as Alberts, said he was trying to help the other man, who was lying on the ground surrounded by blood, according to the document.

Alberts and the victim got into a fight after Alberts heard him yelling at people. Alberts also told police the victim had been pulling planks of wood off of a fence near the dentist’s office.

When Alberts went outside, the victim was holding a large plank of wood. The victim then threw the wood at him, and Alberts tackled the victim to the ground and punched him in the face, he told police.

Alberts then went back into his home before returning to find the victim still on the ground and unmoving, he told police. 

The victim later told officers that Alberts hit him with an object he thought was a police baton before realizing he had been stabbed.

At the scene, a police officer found an inch-long wound on the victim’s back, along with a tear in his shirt that looked to be from a “bladed instrument” rather than a fight, the document said. A police officer described the victim as having multiple puncture wounds to his back and side, severe lacerations and bruises.

The victim declined first responders’ aid before being taken to Salem Hospital’s emergency department. He eventually received surgery, according to the document.

Alberts initially told police he didn’t know how the victim was injured, but that he fell to the ground.

While being transported to the Salem police station downtown for an interview, Alberts asked officers whether he should get a lawyer before invoking his right to remain silent, according to the police document.

Alberts is scheduled to appear in court for an indictment April 2. 

As of Monday, March 23, he is in custody at the Marion County Jail and being held on a $100,000 bail, the jail roster showed.

Contact reporter Madeleine Moore: [email protected].

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