Crime & Safety
Man in Jail After Robbing, Stabbing a Man who Bummed Him a Cigarette
A 29-year-old man from Bensalem is in jail after robbing and stabbing a man who gave him a cigarette.
A 29-year-old man Bensalem man is in jail after robbing and stabbing a man who gave him a cigarette, according to reports.
A PhillyBurbs article said that police responded to the 2500 block of Old Trevose Road after midnight for a report of a suspect armed with a knife and when they arrived at the scene, they saw a man who was later identified as James Clarke being chased by another man.
Police then chased Clarke, who resisted arrest when police caught up to him, PhillyBurbs said.
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The man who was robbed and stabbed told police that he and his son were standing outside their apartment when Clarke approached them and asked for a cigarette, the article said. After receiving a cigarette, Clarke pulled out two knives and demanded money.
The father gave Clarke the money he had—$1 in change—while the son ran away to call police, the PhillyBurbs article said. Clarke then punched the father in the face and stabbed him in the left hand.
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Clarke is being charged with simple assault, possessing instruments of crime, robbery and inflicting serious bodily injury, according to information found on Bucks County's Inmate Lookup website. He was arraigned before Bensalem District Judge Joseph Falcone Thursday night and sent to Bucks County prison in lieu of $200,000 bail or 10 percent.
This is not the first arrest for Clarke, according to information from Inmate Lookup. In 2009, he was also charged with robbery and inflicting serious bodily injury and aggravated assault, in addition to other charges.
