Former ‘Saved By The Bell’ star Dustin Diamond has been arrested in Wisconsin for allegedly stabbing a man with a switchblade, and has been charged with reckless endangerment of safety, carrying a concealed weapon and disorderly conduct.

In news first reported by TMZ (who also claim to have footage of the incident), Diamond, who played Samuel “Screech” Powers in the iconic NBC high school drama, was arrested by Ozaukee County officers early on Friday morning. The first two offences are felonies, the third a misdemeanour, according to police and court records that have subsequently emerged.

Dustin Diamond
Dustin Diamond, pictured here in 'Celebrity Big Brother', was arrested in Wisconsin on Friday after the incident

Allegedly, Diamond stabbed a man in Port Washington, Wisconsin bar in the small hours of Boxing Day after an argument – believed to be over pictures that the stranger was taking of him – escalated to the point of violence. Diamond is thought to have inflicted a half-inch wound under the victim’s armpit, who proceeded to bleed heavily.

The former child star and his fiancee then fled the bar and were picked up in their car later, with his companion also being arrested on a count of disorderly conduct. Police insiders informed the source that the victim is already at home recovering, having suffered non-life threatening wounds.

Having appeared in court in the morning, Diamond and his partner are said to be claiming self-defense, having been attacked in the bar. The bail was set at $10,000. No representatives of Diamond have yet released any statements to the press.

Since the legendary ‘90s sitcom ended, Diamond has continued to work intermittently. He was most recently a 2013 contestant of ‘Celebrity Big Brother’, the reality show’s twelfth series.

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