PITTSBURGH — A man was arrested Friday after allegedly chasing two 10-year-old boys with a knife at a park on Pittsburgh’s North Side in what police are calling a “random act of violence.”
Officers responded to the playground near Cedar Avenue and Pressley Street at around 1:20 p.m.
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.
While in custody, Butcher allegedly made several erratic statements to police, who observed green paint covering his hands. Butcher spontaneously told officers that “he is security for port authority,” though he didn’t have an employee identification. Butcher also claimed, “he needs his bulletproof vest taken off.” He told officers that the roll of tape on his pants was a bulletproof vest, according to the complaint.
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 “he wanted to play basketball with him” before Butcher attempted to grab him, leaving green paint on the boy’s clothing.
Police said the second boy corroborated the account during a separate interview.
Investigators verified the victims’ 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 “appears to be a knife” and running toward the children.
Officer Smith contacted the children’s families before driving both boys home. Both parents told police they wanted to pursue charges against Butcher.
Butcher is facing several charges, including aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, possessing instruments of crime, simple assault, harassment and recklessly endangering another person.
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.
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