Woman Arrested After Alleged Attack in Thoreau Path

A 28-year-old Boston woman was arrested after she allegedly cut a female victim with a knife after attempting to stab the victim’s son at Thoreau Path last Tuesday, Boston Police said.

About 2:05 p.m., an officer received a radio call to the path, located in the West End, for a report of a person stabbed. Upon arrival, police observed a male, later identified as the first witness, holding down a female, who was later identified as the suspect.

The witness stated at approximately 2 p.m., he was walking down a narrow path adjacent to 10 Hawthorne Place that leads to Thoreau Path when he observed a female walking in the path with a baby stroller and what he assumed were her two children. The witness then observed the suspect, who was walking directly in front of him, as she approach the family, lunged at them and swung a large steak knife in the direction of the two children. The witness stated he then observed the victim as she attempted to defend her children by grabbing and spinning the stroller with the children on board away from her attacker. The victim then placed herself between the suspect and her children as she took a defensive posture, the witness said.

The witness told police that he then interceded and ran to the scene, grabbing the suspect and disarming her before he threw the knife a distance of about 20 feet into Thoreau Path. The witness said he then held the suspect on the ground until police arrived.

A second witness informed police that she heard a woman screaming and then observed the first witness holding the suspect on the ground as he attempted to get the knife away from her. The second witness said she then kicked the knife further away in order to assist, but didn’t observe the suspect attack anyone.

Police observed a large steak knife with a light brown handle in the middle of Thoreau Path about 10 feet from where the first witness was holding suspect and secured the weapon, which was later turned over to detectives as evidence.

After the victim was transported to Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) by ambulance for evaluation and treatment, the victim’s husband arrived at the hospital and stated he was talking to the victim on his cell phone at the time of the altercation. The victim’s husband said he heard someone ask his wife for the time before she started screaming.

Detectives interviewed the victim in the hospital emergency room, where she stated she was walking in Thoreau Path with her children when the suspect approached her and asked her what time it was. After the victim responded 2:04 p.m., she said noticed that the suspect had a knife and was attempting to stab her son.

The victim sustained a cut to her left index finger apparently from grabbing the knife in her defense, as well as a left knee abrasion when she and the suspect fell to the ground.

The first witness also sustained a 3-inch abrasion to his left forearm from when the suspect allegedly cut him during their struggle and was treated at the scene by Boston EMS. The witness refused medical transport to the hospital for further treatment, however.

The two children – ages 1 and 4 – reportedly sustained no injuries as a result of the incident. Diane Huggins was placed under arrest for two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon (knife) and two counts of assault by means of a dangerous weapon. Higgins was then transported to Area A-1 headquarters for booking.

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