Middletown Police Search for Stabbing Suspect

detectives are working to track down a suspect who allegedly stabbed a 23-year-old Middletown man outside a convenience store Monday.

Middletown Police Detective Lt. John Dring said police have identified the suspect, based on the victim’s account and interviews from witnesses near the scene of the incident, which took place around 3 p.m. Monday outside the on East Main Road.

The victim was stabbed once in the face and twice in the abdomen outside the store and was bleeding when the first police officers arrived on scene, according to Lt. Dring.

rescue workers treated him at the scene and transported him to Newport Hospital, where he was later treated and released, according to Lt. Dring.

A warrant was issued for the suspect’s arrest Monday evening. He is being charged with one felony count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

Police at this time are releasing no further information about the suspect's identity.

“We know who he is and we’re working to locate him today,” Lt. Dring said, noting that detectives hoped to make an arrest by the day’s end.

Further details about the suspect’s identity will be released with the official arrest report once the suspect has been apprehended, Lt. Dring said.

Neither the victim nor the suspect are employed by the convenience store and it is believed the victim was a customer there, according to police.

Robbery was not determined to be a motive at this time.

“This was not a random occurrence. The suspect knew the victim, but that’s all we can say at this point,” Lt. Dring said.

Police so far have described the weapon as a sharp-edged object.

Middletown Patch will continue to follow this story as it develops.