Lynn stabbing suspect: I was defending myself

LYNN – A city man claimed self-defense in a Washington Street stabbing Monday morning that police said left the alleged victim with a wound in his side and an exposed finger bone.”(The alleged victim) comes over, he is not supposed to be on the property, there is a trespass order to keep him off the property, but he comes over on Saturday going after (the defendant) with a hammer,” court-appointed defense attorney John Ruehrwein said in Lynn District Court Monday. “He came back today, with a shovel, threatening (the defendant’s) wife.”Frank Ancrum, 54, of 224 Washington St. #30, was arrested and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, two counts; mayhem; and armed assault to murder; at 10:25 a.m. Monday. He pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment later that afternoon in Lynn District Court.Police responded to the area of 176 Washington St. on the report of a stabbing. Officers reported finding the alleged victim with a puncture wound in his lower left abdomen and a severe cut to his left hand that exposed the bone of his ring finger.The alleged victim told police “Franko” had stabbed him, and a woman told police the suspect was named Frank Ankrum and had gone to court to speak with his probation officer, police reported.The defendant told officers he had fought with the alleged victim Saturday and the alleged victim returned Monday morning and threatened Ancrum’s wife. Ancrum alleged that he went to fight the alleged victim, who armed himself with a shovel. Ancrum told police he disarmed the alleged victim and hit him several times with the shovel.But police reported a woman told police she saw an agitated Ancrum armed with a shovel and wearing a tool belt while walking in the middle of Washington Street after the incident.”She stated that he was swearing and was almost struck by several cars and described him as irate,” police reported.Police said they did not recover either a shovel or a knife.Essex Assistant District Attorney Maria Markos said Ancrum had a criminal record dating to 1970, convictions for charges including violating a restraining order; threats and domestic assault and battery. He also has a 2? year sentence hanging over his head if he violated probation for a charge of witness intimidation, Markos told the court.Although he had come to court before even being arrested for the alleged incident, Markos requested Ancrum be held on $20,000 cash bail to ensure he returned. Probation Officer Kim Garbarino requested Ancrum be held for an alleged probation violation.Ruehrwein said his client had “a definite self-defense case,” however. Ruehrwein said the alleged victim had been tormenting the building residents and the defendant. He requested at most a $500 cash bail and that his client not be detained for a probation violation hearing.Judge Neil Hourihan ordered $500 cash bail, that the defendant be held for an alleged probation violation and that the defendant stay away and have no contact with the alleged victim.Ancrum is scheduled to return to court July 22.Outside the courtroom, Ancrum’s neighbor Christine Rebholz said that several residents had complained about the alleged victim, who was doing carpentry at the building.”Something’s wrong with this guy,” she said.But she said the building’s landlord didn’t want to fire the alleged victim, and she was moving out because of the problems.”It’s just poison,” she said.