A Boston man is scheduled to face a dangerousness hearing tomorrow according to Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden. The hearing follows charges against Abram Acevedo, 31, for his involvement in a stabbing incident on June 24 and a subsequent assault involving his girlfriend and her dog on July 1.
According to a statement released by the Suffolk District Attorney's Office, Acevedo is facing a multitude of charges including attempted murder, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (knife), animal cruelty, assault with a dangerous weapon (broom), and witness intimidation. The incidents, sparked wide community concern, and Judge Steven Kim has ordered Acevedo held without bail pending the outcome of the hearing.
Details of the stabbing indicate that Boston police found a 49-year-old man on Centre Street bleeding heavily from stab wounds to his left arm. The victim identified Acevedo as his attacker who allegedly attempted to steal his motorcycle and fled the scene, leaving the vehicle in a walkway. The victim's injuries, while serious, were not life-threatening, and they received treatment at a local hospital.
In another disturbing event, Boston police were alerted to an assault on a Shih Tzu and a threat against the dog's owner, Acevedo's girlfriend. In her account to the police, the victim stated that Acevedo expressed anger towards her dog and committed acts of cruelty against the pet. Further, "We request dangerousness hearings only when an individual’s conduct presents an imminent or ongoing threat to the community, which is clearly the case here. Thankfully the injuries to the people and the dog in these incidents are non-life threatening. But the psychological trauma of attacks is always something we’re concerned about," Hayden said in the district attorney's press release.
As the proceedings approach, the case has drawn attention to issues of violence and public safety in the Boston community. Acevedo admitted to the stabbing during an interview following his arrest. Despite the charges, it is a fundamental principle that all accused individuals are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
