Joel Grady Close, 22, of Anchorage, Alaska, is accused of cutting another man on the cheek with a knife at a south Minot apartment.

He is charged with Class C felony aggravated assault in district court in Minot.

According to a probable cause affidavit filed with the court, the alleged victim went to a neighbor’s door at 12:31 a.m. Friday to report the assault. He told the neighbor that Close had tried to kill him and held a knife to his throat.

The alleged victim told police that Close had been visiting Minot from Alaska. He and Close had been drinking and got into an argument, Close grabbed a folding knife off the alleged victim’s dresser, tackled his friend in the bathroom and then straddled the alleged victim and held a knife close to the other man’s throat with one hand and held his other hand against the friend’s throat.

The alleged victim pushed Close’s hand upward to keep the knife away from his throat. While he was pushing the knife away, the knife scratched his cheek. Close said he would kill the other man and the alleged victim feared for his life. He was eventually able to get away from Close by kicking him in the stomach and groin. Close got up and ran and police later found him hiding in a closet in the residence.

Close made an initial appearance in district court on Friday before Judge Doug Mattson.

Close denied assaulting the other man and told the judge that he was sleeping in the closet to try to keep the situation from escalating any further.

Mattson set bond at $7,500, with a requirement that Close post 10 percent of that, and ordered Close not to drink and to participate in the 24/7 Sobriety Program as a condition of bond.

The alleged victim did not want a no contact order or an order that Close stay away from his residence.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for Oct. 3 before Mattson.