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Suspect Charged With Stabbing Woman In East Harlem

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A suspect was charged late Thursday with stabbing a woman with a screwdriver in East Harlem.

Police arrested Ryan Watson, 31, and charged him with assault in connection with the incident earlier this week.

The attack happened just before 5:30 p.m. Wednesday inside a building at 161 E. 110th St.

Police said the man approached a 58-year-old woman and stabbed her in the right thigh. Police said that when he approached her, he said repeatedly, "How are you doing, Miss?" CBS2's Andrea Grymes reported.

The man then fled eastbound on 110th Street. Police said the victim did not know the suspect and that the incident appears to be a random attack, CBS2's Tracee Carrasco reported.

In addition to the puncture wound, the woman also suffered other small lacerations, police said. She was taken to the hospital in stable condition.

Sources say the victim works at the city's East Harlem Asthma Center on the ground floor of  the building where the incident happened, Grymes reported.

The stabbing took place at the entrance for residents who live in the apartments above.

"The one thing that kinda scares me is that it's a doorman building, so I feel like if I get into the vestibule, I'm safe, so that kind of scares me," Karen Revis, who lives in the building, said. "But I'm just gonna live my life like I do."

"It was all so very strange for us. I've lived here for about two years and it's always been safe and everything seems fine until last night," resident Queenie Wong said.

The Asthma Center remained closed Thursday in the wake of the incident.

Police released a surveillance video and photo of a suspect before Watson was apprehended.

East Harlem Stabbing
Surveillance video of a suspect who police said is wanted for a stabbing attack in East Harlem on Sept. 14, 2016. (credit: NYPD)
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