Arrest made in stabbing of retired officer in Port Richmond

officer stabbing suspect Joseph Fitzgerald Joseph Fitzgerald, 31, faces assault and reckless endangerment charges.
Credit: Philadelphia Police Department

Philadelphia police have made an arrest in the stabbing early Monday morning of a retired police officer in Port Richmond.

Investigators on Tuesday took into custody Joseph Fitzgerald, 31, whom they encountered on the 3300 block of Aramingo Avenue.

Fitzgerald, of the 3300 block of Belgrade Street, allegedly stabbed the 56-year-old former officer around 2 a.m. inside a home on the 3000 block of Salmon Street.

The victim was taken to Temple University Hospital, where he was in stable condition.

Fitzgerald was arraigned at 4:15 a.m. Wednesday and bail was set at 10 percent of $400,000.He is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, possession of an instrument of crime and reckless endangerment.

Fitzgerald was still slated to be under court supervision at the time of the stabbing after pleading guilty in April 2012 to a second-offense DUI and receiving 90 days to 12 months in prison, followed by 2 years of probation, according to court documents.

He was sentenced the year before to 72 hours to 6 months in jail after pleading guilty to charges of driving under the influence, criminal mischief, simple assault and reckless endangerment.

Fitzgerald in 2006 received 12 months of probation after pleading guilty to criminal conspiracy and criminal mischief.

He is next due in court Sept. 4 for a preliminary hearing in connection with the most recent charges.