A man accused of stabbing four people on an Amtrak Train Friday evening in Niles told police that a person he was talking to on the train “turned into a demon and he had to fight them.”

The detail comes from a complaint warrant filed Saturday against the defendant Michael Darnell Williams.

The 44-year-old Saginaw resident appeared calm and lucid as he was formally charged via television monitor Monday in Berrien County Trial Court with four counts of assault with intent to commit murder — a felony carrying a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Judge Dennis Wiley set Williams’ bond at $1 million cash and denied Williams’ request to be granted a personal recognizance bond, which would have allowed him to sign a written promise to appear in court as required.

In the written complaint warrant, officers described the incident, which occurred around 7 p.m. on an Amtrak train parked at the Niles depot at 598 Dey Street. Niles police were dispatched to the station because a passenger appeared to be acting oddly.

Niles Police Officer Shane Daniel arrived on the scene and his attempt to get on the train was delayed by passengers running off the train. When Daniel finally got into the train he saw a black male subject — later identified as Williams — running toward him with a five-inch blade hunting knife in his hand. Daniel drew his taser and shot Williams in the chest, which caused him to drop the knife as he fell on the floor of the train. Daniel then handcuffed Williams without incident.

Officers and first responders then began treating four injured people who sustained multiple stab wounds and lacerations.

Victim Dontrel Bankhead, a 40-year-old train conductor, was cut or stabbed two times in the head, two times in the neck and several other times in the body.

Victim Bonnie Cleasby, a 59-year-old passenger, was stabbed in the abdomen.

Victims Dan Stewart, a 56-year-old passenger and Gail Vanhorst, a 47-year-old passenger, were both stabbed in the chest.

The victims were last reported as being in stable condition.

In an interview with Niles Police detectives, Williams said he remembered being on the train and talking to a guy who turned into a demon. Williams said he had to fight the demon, but did not remember what happened next. He did admit to being in possession of a hunting knife.

During Monday’s arraignment, Williams told the judge that someone had stolen his money, so he would not be able to hire a lawyer.

He also said he’d been working as a truck driver for the past 90 days.

Judge Wiley ordered a court-appointed attorney to represent Williams and set a preliminary examination for a later date not yet determined.