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DULUTH — A woman allegedly stabbed her boyfriend five times at a downtown soup kitchen after he attempted to break up with her due to erratic and violent behavior.

Tiwanna Cheree Dunbar, 38, charged at the victim around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 2 at Union Gospel Mission, striking him with a knife in the chest, stomach, arm and leg, according to a criminal complaint.

The victim, James Casler, 48, told the News Tribune he had just reported Dunbar to police and her probation officer after she assaulted him a few nights prior.

"The cop had just got off the phone with her," he said. "She went straight to the mission with a knife in her hand and tried to kill me."

Casler said Wednesday that he had received numerous stitches at the hospital and was still dealing with some pain and difficulty walking as a result of the attack. Dunbar, meanwhile, was arraigned Thursday in State District Court on three felony charges.

The complaint confirms police had been at the mission, 219 E. First St., around 3:30 p.m. Tuesday to speak with Casler about an "after-the-fact physical domestic." The victim stated they had been in a relationship for a few months and that Dunbar was staying at his apartment on the premises.

Casler said they had been in the mission's community kitchen area two days earlier when another woman came through, setting down her property and exchanging a few words with him. Dunbar then "tossed the woman's items and confronted the victim, believing that he was cheating on her," according to the complaint. Casler asked why she would do that, and Dunbar punched him in the head.

Casler said they went back to his apartment down the hall and he fell asleep, only to wake up to discover Dunbar over him holding a knife to his genitals. She made comments about cutting off his penis and ended up biting him in the arm during an ensuing struggle, the complaint states.

Officers left the mission after taking Casler's report, but returned a short time later when the stabbing was reported. Police said several witnesses saw Casler bringing Dunbar's property to the bottom of the steps to pick up, then heard the victim shout, "She's got a knife!"

The complaint says Dunbar stabbed Casler "in quick succession," and the victim later recalled thinking: "I can't believe this is happening. ... She was trying to kill me by stabbing me in the chest."

Dunbar was arrested a short time later, with officers indicating they seized from her a folding knife, approximately 3-5 inches long, as well as a Swiss Army folding knife. When booked at the St. Louis County Jail, a body scan reportedly discovered another folding knife that she had concealed on her body.

Dunbar is charged with second-degree assault, domestic assault and introducing contraband into a jail. Records show she has at least four prior convictions for domestic violence or threats, including two felonies.

St. Louis County prosecutor Tony Rubin said Dunbar has a history of failing to comply with supervised release, and she faces a presumptive prison term if convicted of the new charges. Judge David Johnson granted his request to set bail at $50,000.

Dunbar's next appearance was scheduled for Jan. 30.