Stabbing suspect tased after he stabbed a postal worker in Carmel
By: -----
Carmel, NY - A Rockland County man was arrested after allegedly stabbing a U.S. Postal Service employee at the Carmel post office, town police said.
Carmel officers and Putnam sheriff's deputies responded to the post office on Fair Street at 3 pm Thursday, July 30, on reports of a disturbance. The suspect, Howard McNiff, was still chasing the victim when a sheriff's deputy who was the first on the scene Tased him. McNiff was taken into custody without further incident.
The 61-year-old victim, a postal employee from Carmel, suffered multiple stab wounds to the upper torso and was taken by private vehicle to a nearby hospital. He was released later that day.
A second postal employee who was stabbed in the arm while trying to stop the attack declined medical attention.
McNiff, 38, of Nanuet, was arraigned in Town Court on felony charges of second-degree attempted murder and second-degree assault and a misdemeanor charge of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He was ordered held at the Putnam County jail.
Following a preliminary investigation, police determined the victim and McNiff were acquainted but no details about what led to the stabbing were provided.