APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Formal charges have been filed against a man who allegedly stabbed a woman with a broken smoking pipe in Appleton.
Rickey Denson, 57, has been charged with attempted first-degree intentional homicide, victim intimidation, false imprisonment, strangulation and suffocation, and bail jumping, for the Wednesday night incident.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim said she and Denson were among a group of people hanging out at Jones Park. At one point, the victim said Denson came up to he and said to her, “why do you hate me,” “Why do you hate me so much,” and asked her to “come back to the table.” She said Denson followed her up the park’s main staircase and out of the park. She walked past the Appleton Police Department in an effort to dissuade him from following her, but he continued. She walked toward a store in the hopes of finding someone else who could help.
When they reached the area of Memorial Drive and Seventh Street, the victim said Denson went up to her from behind and put his hands around her neck, similar to a chokehold. She broke free, but Denson again caught up to her and put his hands around her neck. This time, she felt a burning sensation on her neck. She put her hand on her neck and saw blood. She started yelling for help and a passing driver stopped, picked her up, called 911 and drove a short distance where she could meet with police.
When officers found Denson, they say he had blood on his hands and his pants. They also found a broken smoking pipe at the scene with blood on it.
Officers interviewed Denson at the police department. He said he was too drunk to remember what had happened since he had been drinking at the park all day. A breathalyzer test showed his blood alcohol concentration at .153%, nearly twice the legal limit for driving.
If convicted on all counts, Denson could be sentenced to more than 88 years in prison.
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