Hamilton man arrested after 4 stab wounds in 2 days: police

Hamilton police say a 39-year-old man was arrested after being involved in four stabbings this week, three of which took place on Wednesday.

const. Krista-Lee Ernst told CBC Hamilton that all of the victims were strangers.

Police said officers responded to a call for a person wielding a machete near Robert Street and Catharine Street North in the Beasley area around 1.30pm on Tuesday.

Officers say the accused struck a 43-year-old man with the machete, leaving the man with « life-altering injuries ».

Police say the man is still in hospital.

At 5:15 p.m. the next day, police said officers showed up near York Boulevard and Main Street West after another stabbing.

Police say a 67-year-old man was punctured while trying to break up a fight between two men he did not know.

« The victim was transported to hospital where he underwent several medical procedures. He remains in hospital in a non-life-threatening condition, » according to a press release from the service.

The accused left the scene when officers arrived, but police said they found him shortly after the assault at 5.32pm.

Nearly 15 minutes later, police say they learned of a third stab wound, this time near the First Ontario Center on York Boulevard.

There, officers say they found a 33-year-old man with a stab wound to the abdomen and an injured lip. He was taken to hospital for his injuries.

« Although the victim did not cooperate, police determined that the victim had been stabbed approximately 45 minutes prior in a nearby parking lot by the same suspect, » the news release read.

Ernst said the accused, a 39-year-old man from Hamilton, was known to local police. He faces numerous charges including:

• Two counts of aggravated assault.
• Assault Causing Bodily Harm
• Uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
• Ten counts of probation violations.

Police said they are currently investigating a fourth stabbing. This one also reportedly happened on Wednesday afternoon near the Jackson Square rooftop between 2:30 and 3:00 p.m.

« In this case, a 31-year-old Hamilton man was stabbed in the leg, » police said.

« This investigation is ongoing and additional charges may be brought as a result. »

Anyone with information about these or any other incidents is asked to call police at 905-546-3833 or Crime Stoppers.