PLATTSBURGH -- Two men were slashed with a box cutter after a drunken argument at a crowded local bar escalated into a physical confrontation early Friday morning.

Reginald Lee, 37, of Plattsburgh told police he was relaxing with his friends and having a few drinks at the Naked Turtle around 1:30 a.m. when "outsiders" began to harass them.

According to Plattsburgh City Court records, Lee said he tried to leave, but was followed by an angry and growing crowd.

"To back up" the crowd, Lee allegedly started swinging a box cutter and slashed Jared Haney's face and abdomen, exposing the man's intestines and leaving him sliding in and out of consciousness.

City Police said a second man suffered an arm laceration during the barroom brawl.

As Lee and his friends left, bar employees and witnesses called 911, cleared out the bar and tried to tend to Haney's wounds before an ambulance arrived and brought the two victims to CVPH Medical Center.

Haney underwent emergency surgery for his abdomen wounds and was being cared for in the intensive-care unit Friday afternoon.

The other man was treated and released.

Police were able to locate Lee after witnesses provided a description of the alleged attacker and he was taken into custody without incident near the Dock Street restaurant.

The downstate native was charged with first-degree assault, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of second-degree menacing.

He is now being held at the Clinton County Jail without bail.

After his arrest, Lee allegedly told police he wasn't trying to hurt anyone, but pulled out the utility knife to scare the crowd away and defend himself.

"I kept swinging for fear with my knife," the unemployed, expecting father said in a signed statement.

Lee, who recently worked at Northeast Printing and has two prior felony convictions, is being represented by attorney Matt Favreau.

During his arraignment, the Mildred Boulevard resident waived the time frame for a felony hearing, but reserved the right to have it at a later date.