New Bedford Man Arrested in Downtown Stabbing Incident

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — A New Bedford man with a lengthy criminal history was arrested for allegedly stabbing a man in the city’s downtown on Wednesday.

According to New Bedford Police, officers responded to a call for a stabbing victim on April 16 in the area of the Elm Street and Purchase Street intersection. There, they found a male victim who had sustained a “severe laceration to his arm” and “two other minor wounds to his body,” according to police.

The victim is expected to recover from their injuries.

The suspect, meanwhile, had fled the scene but police began searching the area using a description provided to the officers. He was then discovered at the Serta bus terminal and taken into custody without incident.

Police identified him as Dennis Hart, 46, of New Bedford. He was charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon causing serious bodily injury.

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According to police, Hart is currently on probation from New Bedford District Court and has “an extensive criminal history” with 43 adult arraignments and previous convictions for offenses including distribution of Class B substance, assault and battery, malicious destruction of property, intimidation and strangulation.

He was arrested in 2021 after he was targeted in a drug raid.