Homeless Niagara Falls Man Indicted by Grand Jury, Pleads Not Guilty to Murder

A Niagara County Grand Jury has indicted a Niagara Falls man in connection with the death of another man following what authorities describe as a violent assault on Main Street.

Arthur Hicks, 53, entered a plea of not guilty to a 2nd-degree murder charge during his arraignment Thursday morning in Niagara County Court. Judge John Ottaviano ordered Hicks, who is homeless, to remain in custody without bail while undergoing a mental health evaluation.

The indictment was unsealed and made public during the court appearance.

Hicks has been held since July 1st when detectives from the Niagara Falls Police Criminal Investigation Division located him around 12:30pm on the 1000 block of North Avenue. He was found inside a tent in a wooded section near the Amtrak railroad tracks and arrested without incident.

Police had been searching for Hicks since late on June 30th when the body of 34-year-old Thomas Harris, also of Niagara Falls, was discovered at Main Street and Michigan Avenue shortly before midnight.

According to investigators, officers found Harris “unresponsive” in the middle of Main Street, directly in front of the Rapids Theatre. Police reported that Harris showed signs of a severe beating and had suffered stab wounds.

Emergency crews, including Niagara Falls firefighters and EMTs, attempted to provide life-saving aid but were unsuccessful.

Harris was pronounced dead at the scene.

ORIGINAL STORY

Niagara Falls police have arrested a 53-year-old city resident in connection with the fatal stabbing of a man late Monday night.

On June 30th at approximately 11:45pm, officers responded to a 911 call reporting a person bleeding in the roadway in front of 1708 Main Street.

When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered Thomas Harris, a 34-year-old Niagara Falls resident, lying unresponsive with apparent stab wounds.

Emergency medical assistance was immediately rendered by members of the Niagara Falls Fire Department and AMR. Despite their efforts, Harris was pronounced dead at the scene.

Following an intensive investigation led by detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division and the Crime Scene Unit, authorities identified 53-year-old Arthur Hicks, also of Niagara Falls, as the suspect in the homicide.

Detectives located Hicks the following day and placed him under arrest on July 1st.

Hicks has been charged with Second Degree Murder and is scheduled to appear in court today, July 2nd. He is unlikely to be released on bail.

The investigation remains ongoing as law enforcement attempts to learn a motive for the crime.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Niagara Falls Police Criminal Investigation Division at (716) 286-4553.

Homeless Niagara Falls Man Indicted by Grand Jury, Pleads Not Guilty to Murder