Nanuet man charged with attempted murder in stabbing at Carmel post office 

A Nanuet man has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing a U.S. Postal Service employee multiple times inside the Carmel post office Thursday afternoon, July 30, according to Carmel Police. 

Howard McNiff, 38, was arrested at the scene following the attack at the post office at 29 Fair St. in Carmel Hamlet. He is charged with one count of second-degree attempted murder, a violent felony; two counts of second-degree assault, also a violent felony; and one count of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. 

According to police, shortly before 3 p.m. last Thursday, Putnam County 911 received reports of a disturbance that was later updated to an assault involving multiple stab wounds. Carmel Police officers and Putnam County Sheriff's Office deputies responded to the scene. 

Investigators allege McNiff entered the post office armed with a knife and stabbed a 61-year-old Carmel man, a postal employee, multiple times in the upper torso. A second postal employee suffered a cut to the arm while attempting to stop the attack. 

Police said a Putnam County Sheriff's deputy arrived while the assault was still in progress and deployed a Taser as McNiff allegedly continued chasing the victim. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. 

The injured postal worker was transported by private vehicle to a local hospital, where he was treated for injuries that police described as non-life-threatening and released later that day. The second employee declined medical treatment. 

Police said that the preliminary investigation indicates that McNiff and the primary victim knew each other. Police said the stabbing was an isolated incident and there is no ongoing threat to the public. 

Fair Street between Route 52 and Vink Drive was closed for about two hours while investigators processed the scene. 

McNiff was arraigned July 30 in Carmel Town Court, where temporary orders of protection were issued. He was remanded to the Putnam County Correctional Facility and remains in custody at the Putnam County Jail pending his next court appearance. 

The investigation was conducted by Carmel Police detectives with assistance from the Putnam County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. 

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Carmel Police Department at 845-628-1300. 

This is a developing story.