A Boston man was collared for allegedly brandishing a razor after a panhandling pitch went south yesterday night. According to the Boston Police Department, Paul Derrick Nicholson, 61, allegedly turned aggressive and threatened a man with a straight razor when he was denied money outside a Back Bay store.
The incident, which terrorized a pedestrian just after 9 p.m. on 841 Boylston St, spiraled out of control when Nicholson raised the razor above his head after being told by the victim that he had no money to give, as per Boston Police Department's statement. Police reported that they arrived promptly after being alerted, only to find the suspect attempting to flee the scene.
Nicholson, when stopped by officers from District D-4 (South End/Back Bay), had no razor on him; however, they discovered two syringe needles following a search, as the department detailed. Despite the missing straight razor, the account from the shaken victim and the attempted escape led to Nicholson's arrest.
He now faces charges of Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Disorderly Conduct and is set to appear before Boston Municipal Court, law enforcement officials said. It brings to light the stark reality of the streets, where interactions over mere pocket change can escalate into potentially deadly confrontations, marked by the desperation etched onto the city's darker corners.
