WATERTOWN, NY — Patrick A. Francis, 24, homeless, was charged by Watertown police on Tuesday, Oct. 29, at 115 E. Iroquois Ave. with first-degree robbery, a felony, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, second-degree assault, a felony, and petit larceny.
Mr. Francis is accused of stealing a t-shirt belonging to Mary S. Horeth, 64, Watertown, from a 2008 Honda CRV shortly before 5:44 a.m. Tuesday and while attempting to leave the area was stopped by a neighbor Jessie Fortes, 38, according to court documents.
Francis stabbed Mr. Fortes once in the left hand and once in the left forearm with a 3-inch Buck Master knife, police said. “As a result of the stabbing, Fortes was required to seek medical attention for his injuries.”
Mr. Fortes told police that Francis asked him “Do you want to get shot?” prior to Francis pulling a knife out of his pocket, according to court documents.
Police wrote, “The investigation showed a male and female were seen entering multiple vehicles. One of the neighbors tried to stop them from leaving; however, the male brandished a knife and attacked the neighbor, who received injuries
to his hand and forearm. Another neighbor came outside to assist in holding the male suspect until our officers arrived. The female fled the scene before our arrival.”
“Upon placing Francis under arrest and during processing, I ran a criminal history on him which did show he had six previous convictions for crimes including one felony conviction for second-degree robbery on April 16, 2018, and five misdemeanor convictions,” police wrote.
Francis was arraigned at 2:10 p.m. Tuesday before City Judge Anthony M. Neddo who sent him to the Metro-Jefferson Public Safety Building with bail set at $20,000 cash. He is scheduled for a pre-trial hearing at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in City Court.
Police have received numerous reports of being entered over night. Anyone who believes they are a victim of a larceny early Tuesday, they are asked to contact police at (315) 782-2233.
Mr. Francis was arrested on Oct. 16 in the Syracuse area after a 17-year-year old Black River female accomplice allegedly crashed a vehicle stolen from Watertown into another vehicle and the pair fled the scene, according to Syracuse.com. The pair were located hours later at a bus station waiting to take a bus back to Watertown, according to police.
Newzjunky: Francis charged with petit larceny on Dec. 22, 2018
More:Â DA fears crime rates will rise after bail reform laws take effect
More: Lewis County sheriff: bail reform law was ‘ill conceived’
More: DAs trained how to keep people in jail despite new bail law
More:Â Cuomo announces reforms to improve standards and increase transparency in the bail bond industry
