Woman Tries to Stab Man With a Box Cutter at the Poverello Center

On July 11, 2022, at approximately 5:43 pm, a Missoula Police Department officer was dispatched to a report of a female suspect who had reportedly attempted to stab a person with a box cutter near the Poverello Center. Upon arrival, the officer observed the female suspect, who was later identified as Lora Hernandez and ordered her to sit on the curb and put her hands on top of her head. Police Public Information Officer Lydia Arnold explains.

“Lora Hernandez is being held at the Missoula County Detention Center on charges of assault with a weapon, but told officers she had a reason for her actions,” Arnold said. “There were no physical injuries to any of the involved parties. Officers responded to a call for service at the Poverello Center regarding Hernandez threatening people with a box cutter knife.”

According to the victim, Hernandez shoved him off his bike which caused him to fall to the ground. When he fell, he began yelling at Hernandez because he was confused why she attacked him. Hernandez accused him of breaking into her home and taking items. When the victim told Hernandez that this was not true, she removed a razor knife from her pocket and thrust the knife at him.

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The victim said the knife came within about 10 inches of cutting him and that Hernandez also attempted to stab him, but he quickly moved away to avoid the knife.

“Officers located the box cutter knife on Hernandez’s person,” Arnold said. “Hernandez stated she came to the Poverello Center because the people she had threatened with the knife had burglarized her apartment. When she saw the victim, she swiped at the victim with the knife and then proceeded to damage some of their property. This case is still under investigation with the Missoula Police Department Detective Division.”

The victim said he immediately ran away from Hernandez, At one point, he turned around to see if Hernandez was running after him and witnessed Hernandez use the knife to cut the tires on his bike that was left behind.

Hernandez denied trying to stab the victim with the box cutter but admitted that she pushed him over on his bicycle and then slashed the tires.

Hernandez is currently being charged with felony assault with a weapon and criminal mischief.

The information in this article was obtained from sources that are publicly viewable.