Mobile County Man Stabbed Multiple Times Over Stolen Dog Dispute; Two Arrested

Two men face first-degree assault charges after a dispute over a stolen pit bull allegedly led to a stabbing in Mobile County, according to the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office.

Investigators said the incident unfolded on Tuesday, February 5, after Mike Jarman filed a complaint earlier that day claiming that John Bliss had stolen his pit bull. Hours later, Bliss was visiting his girlfriend and their children at Jarman’s house when the confrontation turned violent.

Deputies said Jarman and Corey Weaver allegedly stabbed Bliss multiple times in the back and on his arms. Bliss was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was released the following day. Both Jarman and Weaver have been charged with first-degree assault in connection with the attack.

The Sheriff’s Office has not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding the dispute or the status of the missing dog. First-degree assault is a Class B felony in Alabama, carrying a potential sentence of two to 20 years in prison upon conviction.

A Dispute That Turned Violent

The chain of events began, authorities say, with an accusation: that a pit bull belonging to Mike Jarman had been taken by John Bliss. Jarman reported the alleged theft to the Sheriff’s Office earlier on February 5, setting in motion a confrontation that would later leave Bliss hospitalized. When Bliss showed up at Jarman’s residence that evening – reportedly there to see his girlfriend and their children – the underlying grievance over the dog surfaced and escalated into physical violence.

Deputies allege that Jarman and Corey Weaver stabbed Bliss several times, with wounds to his back and arms. He was taken to a hospital and released the next day.

The Charges

First-degree assault in Alabama applies when a person causes serious physical injury to another with a deadly weapon or by other means. As a Class B felony, it carries a sentencing range of two to 20 years, placing it among the more severe assault classifications short of attempted murder.

Both Jarman and Weaver now face that charge, and each will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations in court.

What Happens Next

Felony cases in Mobile County are prosecuted by the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office in Alabama’s 13th Judicial Circuit. A felony charge generally must be presented to a grand jury, which decides whether to return an indictment before the case can go to trial in circuit court. A charge is an accusation, and both men are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.

What Remains Unknown

The Sheriff’s Office has not said whether the disputed pit bull has been recovered, nor has it detailed what exactly was said or done in the moments before the stabbing.

The Mobile County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate, and additional details – or additional charges – may emerge as the inquiry proceeds. For now, two men face felony assault counts, and a third recovers from wounds that began with an argument over a dog.