Man Allegedly Threatens Group With Knife After He Says They Hit His Cab

WORCESTER, MA—

On Saturday, Aug. 13, at approximately 1:55 a.m., a Worcester officer worked detail at La Raza nightclub on Cambridge Street. Just after closing time, the officer was speaking with the victim of a hit and run accident that had just occurred in the parking lot involving a cab. While he spoke, the officer spotted a female running toward him yelling that she had just been assaulted with a knife.

As officers started walking up towards Cambridge Street, they saw a man separate from a large crowd and begin walking away. Members of the crowd pointed at him, informing police that this male had just threatened them with a knife. Officers were able to stop the male and identified him as Damien Washington, 28, Greenwood Street, Worcester.

Witnesses and victims told police that Washington became upset when the cab he was waiting for was struck by another vehicle that fled the scene. Washington walked towards a group of males and females who were waiting for their own cab at the Cambridge Street side of the parking lot. Washington began accusing members of this group of striking the cab he was waiting for.

The group attempted to avoid a fight with Washington, but Washington continued to confront the group, said police. Washington began yelling at members of the group, and eventually pulled out a folding knife, opened it, and lunged at one of the adult males in the group. He also threatened to assault a group of females who were with the male victim.

Police located and seized a knife from the person of Washington. He was placed under arrest and is being charged with Assault with a Dangerous Weapon.