ELIZABETH — A suspect being sought in connection with a stabbing in Elizabeth late last week has been arrested and charged, authorities announced Tuesday.
Alexander Kerton, 34, was arrested at approximately 6:45 p.m. Monday by two Elizabeth police officers who spotted him walking near the intersection of Westfield and Morris avenues in the city’s downtown, according to Elizabeth Police Lt. Dan Saulnier.
Kerton was in possession of a knife at the time, but was taken into custody without incident, Saulnier said.
An arrest warrant for Kerton had been issued earlier on a charge of aggravated assault in connection with an incident that took place Friday afternoon at his home on the 300 block of Morris Avenue in Elizabeth. Kerton is charged with stabbing a fellow resident of his building numerous times; the victim as of Tuesday remained at Newark’s University Hospital in guarded condition.
Bail for Kerton was set at $50,000. The investigation into this incident, as well as the stabbing death of 67-year-old John Forte in the same Morris Avenue building last week, is being continued by Elizabeth Police Department Detectives Raymond Smith and David Derosa.
As of midday Tuesday no charges had been filed in connection with the death of Forte. Anyone with information about either of the stabbing incidents is being urged to contact the Elizabeth Police Department at 908-558-2011 or Detective Smith at 908-558-2017.
A reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in connection with Forte’s death is being offered by Union County Crime Stoppers; tips can be given anonymously by phone at 908-654-TIPS (8477), via text message by texting “UCTIP” and a message to 274637 (CRIMES), or online at www.uctip.org.
These criminal charges are mere accusations. Each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.