Dwayne Bisch, 38, of De Soto allegedly started a fight at the Crystal Tavern in Crystal City and then stabbed Keith Dozier, 34, of Festus, who died early March 1, about an hour after the stabbing, authorities reported.
Bisch has been charged with two felonies for allegedly stabbing Dozier at about 11:20 p.m. Feb. 28 at the bar, 118 Mississippi Ave.
“Mr. Bisch had instigated the fight with the victim and another subject,” according to the probable-cause statement in the case. “Two witnesses said they saw Bisch stab the victim.”
Authorities said they don’t know what the fight was about.
However, numerous witnesses told investigators that Bisch started a fight with Dozier, and then a 35-year-old Pevely man who was with Dozier tried to intervene, Crystal City Police Chief Chad Helms said.
“(The Pevely man) got between the suspect and the victim and got punched in the head and had minor injuries,” Helms said. “The victim and suspect then began to fight.”
After Dozier was stabbed, he was taken by Joachim-Plattin Ambulance to Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City, where he was pronounced dead at 12:28 a.m. March 1.
The Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has charged Bisch with second-degree murder, a class A felony punishable by 10 to 30 years or life in prison, as well armed criminal action, an unclassified felony punishable by a minimum of three years in prison.
Bisch was being held Monday at the Jefferson County Jail on a $500,000 cash-only bond.
Helms said the Pevely man was not transported for treatment of his injuries. However, Crystal City Police will seek a misdemeanor assault charge against Bisch for punching him.