A 52-year-old Robbinsdale man who stabbed a light-rail passenger in St. Paul last March — telling police he did so in self-defense — has been put on probation for two years.

The stabbing happened on a westbound Green Line train, near the intersection of University and Cromwell avenues, shortly before 8:30 p.m. March 2, 2024. Metro Transit police officers found a 48-year-old man with stab wounds to his left side, near his stomach. He was transported to a hospital.

Jack Edward Allison III (Courtesy of the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office)

Jack Edward Allison III was identified as the alleged assailant and arrested.

Allison, who was found with a folding knife, told an officer the man came at him first with a butcher knife and that he acted in self-defense, according to the criminal complaint charging Allison with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

Allison reached a deal with the prosecution in December, pleading guilty to felony third-degree assault with the understanding that it would be sentenced as a gross misdemeanor.

On Monday, Ramsey County District Judge Kelly Olmstead followed the plea deal and stayed a 360-day prison term for two years, during which time Allison will be on supervised probation. He had served three days in jail after his arrest and before posting bond.

A witness told officers the man who was stabbed had been harassing other passengers, and that Allison told him to stop. The man went back to his seat, pulled out a large knife from a bag and “came at us,” before eventually putting the knife away, the witness said, according to the complaint.

An officer found a large knife in a bag and the witness said it was the one displayed against them, the complaint says.

Surveillance video

An investigator reviewed light-rail video and noted the following:

A man boarded the train at 8:11 p.m. He approached Allison, who then made a motion with his right arm consistent with pulling out an object. The man walked away.

A short time later, Allison said, “Let her go.” The man replied, “That’s my girl, man.” He walked over to his bag and pulled out a large knife. He approached Allison with the knife in a “threatening manner” and told Allison to leave him alone, the complaint says. He walked away and put his knife back into his bag.

Allison had his knife in his right hand, resting on his knee.

Allison and the man exchanged more words and stared at each other. Allison got out of his seat with his knife. The man grabbed his bag. Allison ran at him with his knife in his hand and said, “Get it …pull it out.” He grabbed hold of the man and stabbed him in the left side of his torso.

The man broke free and ran to the other side of the train.

Allison grabbed the man’s bag, threw it and said, “There’s your bag. There’s your knife.” He added: “You said you were gonna kill me, so we’re here now.”

Allison declined a formal interview with an investigator.

Ridership up, crime down

The stabbing took place a month after Metro Transit expanded its police presence on light rail and also deployed civilian “agents” to inspect fares, administer first aid, monitor passenger behavior and more.

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Last month, Metro Transit reported a 6 percent decline in crime on its buses and trains from 2023 to 2024 and a 15 percent decline in serious crime during the same period.

There were 7,402 crimes reported on transit last year, with smoking, followed by trespassing and damage to property, the top ones. Violent crime was down 15 percent year-over-year — there were 1,004 reports to Metro Transit police vs. 1,178 last year.

Ridership grew for the third consecutive year as Metro Transit provided more than 47.5 million rides in 2024, a nearly 6 percent increase from 2023.