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Worcester stabbing suspect arrested in Milford after Flock camera alert; woman critically injured
A woman is fighting for her life after an early-morning stabbing in Worcester, and police arrested a male suspect in Milford hours later after an automated license plate reader flagged the vehicle he was believed to be driving. The suspect faces a charge of armed assault with intent to murder, and police are withholding further details, citing the domestic nature of the incident.
WORCESTER, Mass. â A woman is in critical condition after being stabbed early Tuesday morning, and a man accused in the attack was arrested hours later in Milford after an automated license plate reader spotted the vehicle he was believed to be driving, Worcester police said.
Emergency crews were called to the stabbing around 5:40 a.m. and found the woman suffering from life-threatening injuries, according to police. Officials did not disclose the location of the attack within the city.
The woman received treatment at the scene before being taken to an area hospital, where she remained in critical condition, police said.
As investigators searched for the vehicle in which the suspect was believed to have fled, they shared information with police in neighboring communities. Around 2 p.m., Milford police were alerted to the vehicle by a Flock Safety automatic license plate reader system, Worcester police said.
The man was taken into custody and is facing a charge of armed assault with intent to murder. Police did not release his name.
Worcester police said no further information would be released Tuesday afternoon âdue to the domestic nature of this incident,â a classification that typically indicates authorities believe the people involved knew one another.
The case highlights the growing role of automated license plate readers in regional law enforcement. Flock Safety cameras, which photograph passing plates and compare them against law enforcement databases, have been adopted by a number of Massachusetts communities. Civil liberties advocates have raised concerns about surveillance and data retention, while police departments credit the technology with quickly locating suspects in violent crimes.
Authorities have not said whether the suspect and the woman knew each other, and no additional charges have been announced. The investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information is urged to contact Worcester police.