Last weekend began in bloodshed in Northeast Philadelphia as a Wissinoming man stabbed his cousin to death on Friday night inside the apartment they shared, according to police.
The altercation occurred on the 6200 block of Cottage St. shortly before 11:30 p.m., said Officer Christine O’Brien, a Philadelphia police spokeswoman. During an argument, Albert Hauck, 49, allegedly picked up a knife and stabbed Albert Smith, 50, in the left side of the chest.
Police found Smith on the floor bleeding. He was pronounced dead at the scene about 10 minutes later. Police arrested Hauck and charged him with murder, possessing an instrument of crime and related offenses.
He is scheduled for a hearing on Feb. 22.
Hauck is no stranger to Philadelphia’s criminal courts. According to public records, he was arrested at least 10 times between July 1981 and April 2010 for a variety of offenses including drug possession, theft, trespassing, burglary, indecent exposure, aggravated assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness, although he wasnever sentenced to jail time.
In a least four cases, all charges were either withdrawn by the district attorney’s office or dismissed at the Municipal Court level. In at least four other cases, he either pleaded guilty or was found guilty at trial and sentenced to varying terms of probation. Court records do not reflect the final dispositions of two alcoholic beverages/open-container violations in April 2010. ••
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215–354–3031 or [email protected]