A Putnam man was extradited to Connecticut and charged Thursday in connection with two stabbings, including one that was fatal, as well as a drug deal in which a juvenile was allegedly sold cocaine.
Walter Lawson, 41, was taken into custody in Bangor, Maine on June 12 after authorities found that he had three warrants out for his arrest, according to Connecticut State Police . He was extradited to Connecticut on Thursday and charged with first-degree manslaughter, conspiracy to commit first-degree assault, possession of narcotics with intent to sell to someone under 18 and possession of narcotics.
Lawson was held on bonds totaling just over $1.5 million and was expected to be arraigned Friday in Danielson Superior Court.
According to the arrest warrant affidavits, the manslaughter charge stems from the fatal stabbing of 51-year-old William Logan of New Haven on Sept. 26, 2023.
Logan entered Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam shortly before 3 p.m. and collapsed, the warrant affidavits said. He was treated at the hospital before he was pronounced dead.
State police said investigators found that Logan had suffered a single stab wound to the chest.
According to the warrant affidavits, investigators were able to speak to a person who reported that he had witnessed the stabbing, which he said occurred outside a home in Thompson. The man told police Lawson and Logan were among a group of people in the home when Logan reportedly tried hitting a female, the warrant affidavits said.
This caused a physical altercation between the two, which led to Lawson grabbing Logan by his shirt collar, the warrant affidavits said. The witness said he went outside to his car and that, as he did, Lawson and several other individuals emerged from the home, according to the warrant affidavits.
According to the witness, Logan “got in” Lawson’s face before both men started swinging at each other, the warrant affidavits said. The witness said Lawson then punched Logan twice before allegedly taking out a knife and stabbing him, according to the warrant affidavits.
Logan fell to the ground before getting up and saying multiple times, “You really stabbed me, bro?” the warrant affidavits said. Logan pulled up his shirt, which revealed blood dripping down his body.
According to the warrant affidavits, Logan was then driven by someone at the scene to the hospital and dropped off.
While state police were investigating the incident, a trooper drove to an unspecified location in Killingly where Lawson resided at the time and spotted a 2003 Saturn sedan backing out of a parking spot when it struck a parked Ford F-150 and sped off, nearly striking the trooper’s cruiser, the warrant affidavits said. The trooper followed the Saturn before the driver suddenly stopped on Cotton Bridge Road.
The trooper stopped and backed up into a tactical position until another trooper arrived for backup, the warrant affidavits said. The Saturn driver then took off quickly and engaged police in a pursuit before leaving the road off Route 44 near Route 198 and crashed into several trees in a wooded area, according to the warrant affidavits. The vehicle landed on its roof.
The driver fled the car and could not be immediately located by state police.
As state police were still searching the area, they received a call from a woman who said her juvenile son had just crashed her car on Route 44 and that she had picked him up and brought him to their home in Eastford, the warrant affidavits said.
The juvenile agreed to speak with investigators, telling them he traveled to Killingly around 4 a.m. to meet a guy named “Walter,” according to the warrant affidavits. The juvenile said he drove to a parking lot and bought drugs from the man.
The boy said a woman in an SUV being driven by “Walter” — who state police believe was Lawson — allegedly handed him a bag of cocaine before “Walter” made a motion with his hand and told him to “go, go,” the warrant affidavits said. The juvenile said he drove away very quickly and later stopped abruptly when he realized he was being followed. He said he stopped to determine if the car behind him was a police officer.
When the vehicle turned on its emergency lights the boy said he got scared and drove away, the warrant affidavits said.
State police said they also charged Lawson on Thursday in connection with a nonfatal stabbing on May 10.
According to the warrant affidavits, the victim said she was with a man in a vehicle when they drove to a boat launch on Fabyan Road in Thompson where they parked. The man made a call to Lawson, who she alleged had punched her about a week prior because he thought she had stolen drugs from him, the warrant affidavits said.
Following the call, the man allegedly repeatedly punched the woman in the face and when she tried to block the punches with her leg, he allegedly stabbed her leg multiple times, the warrant affidavits said.
The woman said she was then dragged out of the car and left at the boat launch. She was later taken to UMass Memorial Hospital and treated for her wounds.
According to the warrant affidavits, state police believe the assault was directed by Lawson.
Most Popular
Comments / 0