A Ledyard man pleaded not guilty Wednesday in New London Superior Court to charges that he allegedly stabbed another man on the Mashantucket Pequot reservation.

Nicholas Harris, 22, of 59 Coachman Pike was charged with first-degree assault.

According to an arrest warrant, state and tribal police said they responded about 12:50 a.m. Feb. 8 to a residence on Coachman Pike for a report of a serious assault. Police found a 24-year-old male victim with two stab wounds in his back and another in the back of his neck. The victim was initially taken to the William W. Backus Hospital and subsequently transferred to Hartford Hospital, where he underwent surgery.

At the scene, police said they interviewed a 28-year-old female referred to as "witness 1" who was renting the home and living there with her fiancé and two children. She told police she was having a house party with about 20 people in attendance when the victim was stabbed by an unknown guest.

Police said they later re-interviewed "witness 1" at the Troop E barracks in Montville. During the interview, the witness began crying. She told police that her brother, Harris, also lives in her home. She said she was hosting a party that started at 10 p.m. and the victim and three other close friends arrived at her house at 7 p.m.

Harris wasn't home at the time, and the victim and three other men went to the Two Tree Inn bar at Foxwoods to pick him up, she said.

The group arrived about 9 p.m. from the bar. The witness said everyone was having a good time and playing beer pong. About 11 p.m., two attractive females arrived at the party. The victim was flirting with one of the women when someone bumped into him, causing him to spill his drink on her.

"The victim felt as if it was done purposely in an attempt to pick up the same girl and became angry," the warrant said. "That (the victim), who was described as intoxicated began yelling and punching holes in the wall with his fist."

Harris, according to the warrant, tried to calm the victim and they exchanged words. The victim was taken outside while Harris remained in the house.

The victim came back inside and continued to yell profanities. The victim and Harris got into a fight and the witness said she saw Harris punch the man. The victim fell to the ground bleeding. She told police that she did not see a knife during the fight.

Police also spoke to two other witnesses who both saw the victim and Harris get into a fight.

Last month, Harris was extradited from Webster, Mass., after he fled following the stabbing. He is being held on a $175,000 bond.

His next court date is scheduled for June 3.

i.larraneta@theday.com

Twitter: @larraneta