nothin Knife Threat Makes For Tense Scene | New Haven Independent

Knife Threat Makes For Tense Scene

DSCN4913.JPGWhen Joseph learned he had to leave a group home, he grabbed a blade and threatened to use it.

In the end, no one was hurt at the group home when the incident occurred Wednesday. It did make for a tense scene.

The scene unfolded before 3 p.m. on Sherman Avenue, where Marrakech Inc. runs a home for four 18 to 24-year-olds with mental challenges.

Joseph was coming home in the afternoon when a staffer handed him a letter. The letter informed him that he was being evicted from the home for alleged criminal behavior and for violating house rules.

DSCN4901.JPGAccording to several people on the scene, including a close friend of Joseph who lives next door, Joseph got upset, went to his room, and retrieved a small knife. He demanded to know who had accused him — and he vowed to slash the accuser.

Joseph was ordered to leave the house because he had allegedly been selling sex in back of the building, causing disturbances at the home, and refusing at times to take medication. He had apparently been warned repeatedly before the order came down.

Staff called the cops when Joseph made the threat.

DSCN4915.JPGOfficer David Runlett (pictured) was the first on the scene. He handcuffed Joseph and kept him calm on the front steps of the home, which is near the Hospital of St. Raphael in the West River neighborhood. Runlett and three staffers from the group home waited until police back-up arrived.

The home’s supervisor spoke with Joseph about finding a shelter to stay in and arranging to have nurses bring his medication. Joseph’s friend next door offered to have him stay there; arrangements were made to have nurses bring medication there.

His friend next door confirmed that Joseph loses it sometimes when he gets frustrated — for instance, if he has to wait too long for a nurse to bring medication.

DSCN4908.JPGHe gets mouthy with people he knows can’t hurt him,” said the friend (pictured), who’s 44. He has attention deficit. He’s harmless, though. He blows off steam.”

Joseph was upset he was getting kicked out. He had nowhere else to go,” the friend said.

A staffer at the home, who declined to give her name, said she wasn’t frightened even though Joseph was standing there, armed, vowing to hurt somebody.

I know him. I know he makes threats,” she said. I felt it was an empty threat. He was looking for someone” else.

Woman Interferes

While Officer Runlett was securing the scene, a woman started complaining, loudly, that his cruiser was blocking her car and she wanted to get out. She kept yelling, demanded to know his name and badge number, then called downtown” to the police department to complain.

The district manager, Lt. Ray Hassett, arrived and took control of the scene. The woman started yelling at him, too. He demanded that she calm down and leave the porch area. She did. (Click on the play arrow at the top of this story to watch.) By that time, Runlett had moved his car.

Joseph was taken in a prisoner transport van to police headquarters to be booked on breach of peace charges, according to Hassett.

Marrakech Executive Director Frank McCarthy issued a statement later in the afternoon.

Our mission is to help people who will benefit from our services,” he said. The incident today will not change our mission.”

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