New Bedford Man Arrested in Alleged Stabbing at Downtown Bus Terminal

NEW BEDFORD (WBSM) — New Bedford Police have arrested a man after an alleged stabbing incident at the downtown bus terminal.

Police said that on October 6 at approximately 1 p.m., patrol units were dispatched to the SRTA bus terminal on Elm Street for a reported stabbing victim.

Officer Christopher Cotter arrived and found an adult male who had sustained injuries from a knife. Police said the victim told Cotter he had exchanged words with another man, before that man lunged at him and attacked him. He then realized he had been stabbed.

Cotter used surveillance footage of the incident to identify the suspect as Derek Wiggins, 51, of New Bedford. Wiggins was located later that afternoon by Sergeant Shan Ramos, and was allegedly in possession of a pocket knife.

Wiggins was taken into custody and charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon.

Get our free mobile app

The victim was transported to the hospital for treatment and is expected to recover, police said.

Wiggins appears to have an extensive criminal history and is a registered Level 3 sex offender, convicted in 2006 of indecent assault and battery on a child under 14.

In 2018, he was arrested along with another man in Fairhaven for allegedly breaking into a gas station and allegedly stealing a garbage barrel full of cartons of cigarettes, as well as driving two different stolen vehicles

In 2017, he was arrested on an outstanding warrant in a crime sweep, and in 2016, he was arrested in a drug raid at a Holly Street apartment in New Bedford.

Back in 2000, he was charged with assault and battery, intimidating a witness, and breaking and entering with intent to commit a misdemeanor.