Lynn man charged in armed assault

LYNN – Police charged a city man with assault to murder Monday after finding the man armed with two kitchen knives and chasing a stabbing victim out to Union Street.The alleged victim was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.”(The suspect) armed himself with two kitchen knives and attacked the victim,” Lynn Police Lt. Rick Donnelly said Monday afternoon. “He chased him outside with two knives, where police encountered the two.”Clarence Ash, 40, of 27 Union St. #16, was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, a knife; mayhem; and armed assault to murder; at 12:10 p.m. Tuesday.Police responded to the Union Street address at 11:32 a.m. Monday and found both Ash and the alleged victim outside, according to Donnelly. Donnelly said the alleged victim came to Lynn to visit a former girlfriend and came to Ash’s apartment. Ash allegedly let the alleged victim into the apartment. Donnelly said the alleged victim told Ash about his relationship with the ex-girlfriend and Ash became enraged, armed himself and then attacked the alleged victim. (Donnelly said he did not know Ash’s relationship with the suspect’s ex-girlfriend).Donnelly said the alleged victim had a severe laceration on his right thumb, a stab injury on his right cheek and multiple cuts on his forearm and the back of his neck. Donnelly said the mayhem charge may reflect the seriousness of the wound to the alleged victim’s right hand, which required that he be taken to Massachusetts General Hospital.Ash is expected to be arraigned in Lynn District Court today on the charges.