POTSDAM — A Potsdam man has been charged with attacking his 61-year-old uncle with a sword during an incident early Sunday morning on Berkley Drive.

Village police said Mohamed R. (Ray) Bourhouat, 25, of 37 Waverly St., Apt. 1, turned himself in Monday evening and was charged with second-degree assault with intent to cause physical injury with a weapon, criminal possession of a weapon with intent to use and second-degree menacing.

Police said the incident took place at 3 a.m. Sunday when Mr. Bourhouat arrived at 6 Berkley Drive, armed with a sword and attempted to assault Alex Bennani.

Police said Mr. Bourhouat entered Mr. Bennani’s residence and began an argument. Police reports indicate alcohol was involved.

Mr. Bourhouat reportedly made multiple threats to harm Mr. Bennani and struck the porch near the victim several times with the still sheathed blade.

During the argument, Mr. Bennani reportedly attempted to take the sword away from Mr. Bourhouat and in the struggle suffered what police described as significant lacerations to the index, middle and ring fingers of his right hand.

Mr. Bourhouat reportedly fled the scene before police arrived.

The victim was transported to Canton-Potsdam Hospital, where he was treated and released after receiving 20 stitches.

Police said Mr. Bourhouat turned himself in at 8:19 p.m. Monday. He was arraigned by Acting Village Justice Margaret I. Garner and sent to the St. Lawrence County jail, Canton, with bail set at $2,500 cash or $5,000 bond.

She also ordered the probation department to conduct an alcohol evaluation.

“I have no description for the kind of pain I felt but remember looking down and seeing my finger opened up and bleeding. I thought he had cut off my fingers there was no much blood,” Mr. Bennani said in his statement, noting he didn’t wait to see what his nephew was going to do next and immediately started running as fast as he could through his backyard to the Canton-Potsdam Hospital emergency room.

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