Attempted Murder Charge Filed In Stabbing Of Philly City Park Ranger

PHILADELPHIA — A 34-year-old man is being charged with attempted murder and related crimes after authorities said he stabbed a City Park Ranger Sunday in the Rittenhouse area.

Police were called to the 1800 block of Walnut Street at about 4:18 p.m. Sunday for a report of an assault on a park ranger.

There, they found the ranger in a security booth in the center of the park, suffering from multiple stab wounds to his face and head.

The victim told police he was working inside the booth when a man came in and laid down.

When the ranger asked the man to leave, the man became violent, stabbing the victim in the face and head with a pair of scissors, police said.

Despite his injuries, the ranger was able to handcuff the man and wait for police to arrive.

The suspect was identified as 34-year-old Thomas Riceman, of the 3900 block of Chestnut Street.

Riceman is facing charges of first-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation, terroristic threats, and related crimes.