Suspect charged in Arlington Heights stabbing

A homeless man has been charged with attempted murder after he stabbed another homeless man six times in front of the Arlington Heights Memorial Library on Saturday, police said.

Michael Todd, 51, told police he stabbed the victim after the victim continually harassed him and used racial slurs against him, according to Cmdr. Ken Galinski of the Arlington Heights Police Department.

Both men are white, Galinski said.

Police said Todd and the victim were arguing outside the library around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. After stabbing him, Todd tossed his pocket knife on the roof of the Charter One Bank at 13 W. Davis St. and fled the scene, police said. Police tracked him down 25 minutes later a short distance from the library, which is located at 500 N. Dunton Ave.

The men knew each other from staying at several homeless shelters in the area, Galinski said. Both men listed their last address as the Hope Center, 1140 E. Northwest Highway in Palatine.

The men have also had many run-ins with the police for at least the past 10 years, Galinski said.

"Drinking at the train station, public trespassing, disturbing the peace," said Galinski about some of the complaints against the two men over the years.

Todd was unable to post his bond, set at $50,000 in Rolling Meadows court on Monday. His next court date is Jan. 26. The victim, who is 46 years old, underwent surgery this weekend and was listed in stable condition on Monday at Northwest Community Hospital.