An inmate at the Barnstable County Correctional Facility on Joint Base Cape Cod stands accused of attempting to murder another inmate. Court records show that the accused cut the victim’s throat with a razor.
Thomas J. Howe, 33, was arraigned in Falmouth District Court on Wednesday, September 22. Mr. Howe was charged with assault to maim, assault to murder and assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.
The incident happened on June 8. In court records, Lieutenant Kenneth Shaffer of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office reported seeing Mr. Howe approach another inmate, identified as James Stone, and slash Mr. Stone’s neck with a small razor.
“I observed Howe reach from the right around Stone’s neck and make a slashing motion around towards the rear right of his neck, turn and walk away,” Lt. Shaffer wrote. “I observed inmate Stone stand up and clutch his neck with his right hand.”
Court records indicated that upon cutting Mr. Stone’s neck, Mr. Howe announced, “I’m done, here is the razor.” Officers ordered him to drop the weapon and turn around to have restraints applied. Records showed that Mr. Howe complied without any resistance.
Records also quoted Mr. Howe as having said to Mr. Stone, “That’s what you get for talking s**t the whole time I’ve been in the unit.”
Mr. Stone was initially triaged at the county jail and eventually transported to Falmouth Hospital for treatment of his injury, Lt. Shaffer said. The lieutenant said he spoke with the nurse at the county jail who initially treated Mr. Stone.
The nurse said the inmate’s vitals “were a little high but did not appear to be life-threatening.” The wound was also described as being “not arterial” and likely in need of suturing, Lt. Shaffer said.
Mr. Howe was arraigned in Falmouth District Court on Wednesday. He was ordered held without bail pending a dangerousness hearing set for Tuesday.
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