PITTSBURGH \u2014 A man was arrested Friday after allegedly chasing two 10-year-old boys with a knife at a park on Pittsburgh\u2019s North Side in what police are calling a \u201crandom act of violence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Officers responded to the playground near Cedar Avenue and Pressley Street at around 1:20 p.m.<\/p>\n
According to the criminal complaint, the officer who arrived on scene saw Almondo Butcher, 22, standing next to two juveniles on the basketball court. When Butcher saw the officer approaching, he ran toward a knife that was stuck in the ground and picked it up. The officer drew a firearm and ordered Butcher to drop the weapon. Butcher dropped the knife, laid on the ground and was handcuffed without incident.<\/p>\n
While in custody, Butcher allegedly made several erratic statements to police, who observed green paint covering his hands. Butcher spontaneously told officers that \u201che is security for port authority,\u201d though he didn\u2019t have an employee identification. Butcher also claimed, \u201che needs his bulletproof vest taken off.\u201d He told officers that the roll of tape on his pants was a bulletproof vest, according to the complaint. <\/p>\n
Police interviewed both 10-year-old victims regarding the encounter. The first boy reported that he was on the swing set when Butcher came up to him with a knife and attempted to stab him. After running away, the boys went to play basketball, where Butcher reapproached them without the knife visible. The boy stated that \u201che wanted to play basketball with him\u201d before Butcher attempted to grab him, leaving green paint on the boy\u2019s clothing.<\/p>\n
Police said the second boy corroborated the account during a separate interview.<\/p>\n
Investigators verified the victims\u2019 accounts using city surveillance footage located at North Canal Street and Cedar Avenue. According to the complaint, the video recorded Butcher getting off a Port Authority bus at 1:14 p.m. holding something that \u201cappears to be a knife\u201d and running toward the children.<\/p>\n
Officer Smith contacted the children\u2019s families before driving both boys home. Both parents told police they wanted to pursue charges against Butcher. <\/p>\n
Butcher is facing several charges, including aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, possessing instruments of crime, simple assault, harassment and recklessly endangering another person. <\/p>\n
Authorities have requested that bail be denied for Butcher, citing his mental health status and the unprovoked attack as a clear threat to the community.<\/p>\n
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