MADISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio — A Butler County sheriff's deputy was taken to the hospital after officials said he was stabbed in the back while responding to a call in Madison Township.
Sheriff Richard Jones said Deputy Mike Farthing responded to the 7000 block of Myers Road at around 12:45 p.m. Thursday for a reported vehicle fire. When he arrived, officials said the vehicle was "fully engulfed in flames."
While helping with traffic control, officials said 41-year-old Phillip Lovely, who lives near the location, approached Farthing from behind and stabbed him in the back.
Lovely has been indicted on two counts of felonious assault, two counts of inducing pain, one count of arson and one count of attempted aggravated murder. He is currently in the Middletown jail.
WATCH: A judge ordered a $125,000 cash bond for Lovely at his arraignment Friday
Lovely appeared for his arraignment Friday afternoon. He did not enter a plea, as he appeared without counsel. He mentioned to the judge that he lives with his father and has struggled with anxiety and depression for five years.
Judge Thomas Hanna ordered a $125,000 cash bond for Lovely.
After the incident Thursday, Jones said Farthing was taken to Atrium Hospital. The Butler County Sheriff's office confirmed Farthing was released from the hospital Friday.
"I went to the hospital to check on my deputy, and I’m very thankful — as we all are — that we are dealing with non-life-threatening injuries at this time," Jones said in a release.
WATCH: What our crews on scene learned about the incident
According to a criminal complaint filed in Lovely's case Friday morning, Lovely approached Farthing out in the street.
Lovely then allegedly said "today is not your day" before brandishing the black and silver kitchen-style knife he used to stab Farthing, the complaint says.
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Detectives on the scene after the stabbing also determined that the vehicle fire that Farthing initially responded for was intentionally set by Lovely, the complaint says. Lovely allegedly set the vehicle on fire "out of anger due to a break up with" the person who owned the vehicle.
Lovely has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Friday, Feb. 13 at 9 a.m.
