Police: Suspect Sought After Ridgewood High School Student Slashed

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Police are looking for a man who they said attacked a Ridgewood High School student with a knife.

The student told police he was walking back to school around 11:45 a.m. Wednesday when police said a man came up behind him and grabbed his backpack, causing him to fall, CBS 2 reported.

The suspect then pulled a knife and slashed the teen who sustained minor cuts, WCBS 880's Sean Adams reported.

Police said the student managed to break free and reported the incident to school officials who contacted authorities.

The boy's mother said that the attack was unprovoked, authorities said the attempted robbery was for the boy's backpack.

"Tried to get the backpack off then to the ground swinging at him with a sharp object," Jackie Norrell said, "It was a Swiss Army backpack. Nice backpack. He had an i-Phone in his hand and was texting."

Residents on Walthery Avenue, a quiet street with charming colonial homes where the incident occurred, are stunned.

"Very unusual for Ridgewood, it was the first thing my wife said when I came home," said resident David Katz.

The boy's mother said that the attack has left her rattled.

"It's unnerving. We have a great police department and they're on top of it," Norrell told CBS 2's John Slattery.

The boy's classmates were concerned about safety in the area following the attack.

"I think it's horrible. It's so scary. You have to be conscious of walking in our town," Kate Eanelli said.

"Out of the blue it happens from nowhere. We have to watch, on guard, be careful around Ridgewood," Brett Joiner added.

Police have stepped up patrols in the area.

The suspect is described as a white male in his 20s with scruffy facial hair wearing a black long sleeve shirt and black sweat pants.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Williams of the Ridgewood Police Department at 201-251-4536.

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