Employment agency owner stabbed

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While helming operations at Trinity Staffing Services, 2340 S. Broad St., just after 9 a.m. Sept. 18, the site’s proprietor came in contact with a man inquiring about a job, Detective Danielle Tolliver of South Detective Division said. When the owner informed him she knew of no openings at Lincoln Financial Field or any other sports venue, the man allegedly became incensed and stabbed her three times in the chest with a kitchen knife.

He reportedly stole the woman’s purse and fled after supposedly punching a colleague in the chest and striking her with the phone that she had picked up to call police and headed toward the Broad Street Subway, with a witness giving chase, Tolliver said. Authorities and SEPTA personnel halted the northbound train at the Girard Avenue stop but did not find anyone matching the description, which, according to the second victim, was of a black man, likely in his 30s, with a cornrow hairstyle and a goatee and wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt. The first complainant walked across the street to Methodist Hospital, from which she received transport to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and has since been released.

Based on an application that the supposed attacker had previously filled out, authorities placed his image in a photo array and, through positive identification by the co-worker, arrested 46-year-old Paul Abrams in his North Philly home at 8:45 a.m. Saturday. They charged him with possession of an instrument of crime, attempted murder, theft, assault, robbery, criminal trespassing and criminal mischief. He had not posted his $150,000 bail as of press time and awaits an Oct. 7 preliminary hearing.

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