A Merrillville man faces felony charges after allegedly stabbing a friend after a night of heavy drinking for his birthday, according to court documents.

Joseph Caldwell was charged Dec. 31 with battery by means of a deadly weapon. He posted a $5,000 bond on Jan. 5.

His next hearing is March 2 before Lake Superior Judge Samuel Cappas.

Hobart Police were called Dec. 31 to a Speedway gas station, 4732 W. 61st Avenue. A man sitting in the back of a car had a stab wound in the lower right side of his stomach.

A fight started after they pulled into the gas station to change a flat tire, according to charges.

Witnesses initially lied, saying they didn’t know Caldwell. Later, it emerged he knew the stabbed man, who did not want to press charges, according to the affidavit.

The victim said he was stabbed by someone he didn’t know, before he declined to let police photograph his wounds and further refused to cooperate with investigators.

Another woman told police both men were “brothers”. They started arguing in the area and got into a physical fight, but didn’t see the stabbing, she said.

“Yeah, man, I had to fight him off,” Caldwell said when officers asked what happened. “He slapped me and called me (an expletive).”

Caldwell had slurred speech and watery, bloodshot eyes, according to the affidavit.

“(He) kept coming at me, so I slashed at him with my little box cutter from work,” Caldwell added.

He said the knife was somewhere north of the gas station, but officers didn’t find it.

The victim declined medical treatment and refused to be taken to the hospital. Both he and Caldwell were booked in Hobart City Jail for disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

Later at the station, the victim told police as they pulled into the gas station, he was going to call his wife, but Caldwell said don’t “call that (expletive),” according to the affidavit.

They got out of the car and started to fight, before the victim noticed he was slashed and bleeding from the stomach, charges state.

Caldwell fought people when drunk, the victim said. He “felt bad” and didn’t want him to get in trouble with the law.

The victim said he’s knew Caldwell for 15 years, who was like a “little brother”.