Police identify man charged with stabbing park ranger in Rittenhouse Square

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A man is charged with attempted murder after he stabbed a park ranger in Center City on Sunday, police say.

The park ranger was discovered by police in a security booth in the center of Rittenhouse Square Park on Walnut Street around 4:15 p.m. Police say he had several stab wounds to his face and head.

The victim told police he was inside the booth when a man, whom police identified as Thomas Riceman, 34, entered and tried to lie down. When he asked Riceman to leave, police say, Riceman attacked the ranger with scissors.

Despite the scuffle, the ranger was able to handcuff Riceman and wait for police. He went to the hospital in stable condition.

Riceman is charged with first-degree attempted murder, aggravated assault, ethnic intimidation and related offenses.