Warrant: Man in residential program stabbed staff member in head with pen

A man residing in a pre-trial residential program last year is accused of stabbing a staff member in the head with a pen, according to a state police warrant.

The staff member recalled later that she and and one of her clients were having a conversation about when he could have someone drop off money for him when he suddenly lunged at her and began striking her in the head, the warrant states. It wasn’t until she saw a pen on the floor afterward that she realized that that was what he had used to attack her, the warrant states.

Connecticut State Police arrested Kenny Pho, 42, last month in connection with the attack and charged him with attempted first-degree assault, second-degree assault, second-degree threatening, second-degree reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.

According to the warrant supporting Pho’s arrest, at the time of the assault last October he was a resident of the SIERRA Pre-Trial Center in New Haven, a residential program for adults with criminal cases who suffer from serious psychiatric disabilities, with the goal of transitioning the residents to the community.

State police responded to the center Oct. 14, 2023, on a report that a staff member was attacked by a resident who then fled the building on foot. The staff member was transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

A witness to the assault said Pho came into the staff member’s office initially appearing calm, according to the warrant. He asked about having money dropped off to him on a Sunday, but was informed that it would have to wait until Monday, according to the warrant.

Pho questioned what he was supposed to do without money, then stated “we’re gonna handle this right now,” the witness told state police, according to the warrant.

He then walked around the side of the staff member’s desk and began striking her in the head, the warrant states. They both fell to the ground and were rolling around, but eventually Pho stopped fighting and left the room, according to the warrant.

State police examining the scene noted that there were drops of blood around the office, the warrant said.

Pho has another case pending in Superior Court in Danbury, where he is charged with second-degree threatening, violation of probation and two counts of failure to appear.

He was held in lieu of bails totaling $400,000 and is scheduled to appear at Superior Court in New Haven Wednesday.