Southold Town Police yesterday charged a Bronx man an Oct. 18 stabbing in Greenport Village.
The suspect, who had been identified with the help of New York City Police detectives, eluded arrest by staying at a variety of locations in Suffolk County and New York City, police said in a press release issued last night. He was stopped by a Southold Town Police officer for a traffic violation yesterday morning and arrested in connection with the stabbing.
Javon Owens, 27, of 757 169th Street, Bronx is charged with first-degree assault in the stabbing of James Lawrence, 40, of Greenport, police said. He will be arraigned today in Southold Justice Court.
Lawrence was brought to Eastern Long Island Hospital on the afternoon of Oct. 18 by an occupant of a Second Street residence where the attack took place, according to the press release issued last night. The hospital notified police.
Police said they were first given “erroneous information” about the location of the assault, according to the release. The stabbing was originally reported by police as having taken place outside the IGA.
Investigators determined the location of the crime and the street nickname of the suspect, according to the police report.
Police Chief Martin Flatley said last night in an email he has not been able to speak publicly about the stabbing investigation because it was an active investigation. The lack of an arrest in the stabbing was criticized last week by Greenport Village Trustee Doug Roberts, who faulted Southold Town for not providing the police department with the resources necessary to adequately police the village. The reported location of the stabbing outside a supermarket “in broad daylight” frightened residents, Roberts said. See prior story.
