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At 4:39 p.m. Friday, police converged on the 1100 block of Pine Street to take William Johnson into custody. They had identified the 38-year-old resident of the 400 block of Morris Street as the suspect in a stabbing the previous night and located him sleeping in the bushes.
According to the Public Affairs Unit, an off-duty police officer and a friend were walking in Center City at 11:34 p.m. March 20 when Johnson reportedly approached them to ask for money and cigarettes. The law enforcement agent responded by identifying himself as a cop and implored him to leave them alone.
Johnson allegedly responded with profanity and instigated a fight with the first complainant, who suffered four stab wounds. The other individual, who intervened in the matter, received a gash to his chin. He noticed the first complainant in pain and inspected his injuries in a nearby establishment.
Upon his arrest, Johnson, also known as William Wheaton, complained of rib pain and received transport to Hahnemann University Hospital. Authorities will process and charge him after his release.
Contact Managing Editor Joseph Myers at jmyers@southphillyreview.com or ext. 124.
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