Prosecutor seeks to revoke bail for stabbing suspect after it became political lightning rod

Yahoo

15-02-2025

Feb. 14—The Hillsborough County Attorney's Office is seeking to revoke the bail of a man connected to a stabbing outside a Manchester convenience store last week, which prompted outcry after a magistrate released the 25-year-old man without bail.
Kyle Bisson of Manchester was arrested on Bridge Street on charges of second-degree assault and two counts of falsifying evidence after the stabbing of a 42-year-old man in front of the Bunny's Convenience store on Elm Street. The two men reportedly did not know each other.
Bisson was released on personal recognizance bail by Magistrate Stephanie Johnson after Manchester police argued for preventive detention during a magistrate hearing held Saturday.
Bisson was convicted of criminal threatening (domestic violence) in October and was given a 60-day sentence suspended for two years.
While police lambasted Johnson's decision, a police prosecutor during the Monday hearing did not seek a modification of the bail, according to court documents. The prosecutor asked for Bisson to arrive at the police station to be formally booked.
Manchester Mayor Jay Ruais and Gov. Kelly Ayotte, both Republicans, have criticized Johnson's decision. The Hillsborough County Attorney is John Coughlin, who is also a Republican.
Prosecutor Patrick Ives is asking the Superior Court to revoke the prior order of bail and hold Bisson on preventive detention. A hearing is set to be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
Bisson stabbed the victim nine times with a pocket knife during a fight, and the majority of the wounds came as the man tried to flee, according to the complaint. Bisson later threw the knife in a storm drain and a red winter jacket into a dumpster, according to court documents.
Police were called to the scene around 7 p.m., according to a police prosecutor. The alleged victim was brought to Elliot Hospital.
Bisson had been stabbed once in the chest during the altercation and called 911.
Police say security footage showed the two having "some sort of verbal argument" when the other man, whom documents refer to as "M.P.," punched Bisson in the face.
"Then, Bisson makes a whipping downward motion with his right hand, which appeared consistent with someone whipping a folding pocket knife blade out. However, when he does this, he turns around and looks on the ground, as if he had dropped something," the affidavit reads. "He then bends down as if to pick something up and M.P. rushes him. At this point, the two of them are on the ground in a fight, however, they are partially out of view of the camera."
Bisson told police that M.P. had called him a derogatory name for Black people, according to the affidavit, and after exchanging words with the man, was punched in the face. Bisson thought he was going "to get beaten to a pulp" and said he acted in self-defense, according to court documents.
The alleged victim explained that Bisson "purposely bumped into him." He said after a verbal exchange Bisson came after him in "combat mode."
Ruais blasted the bail ruling in a news release and again during his State of the City address Wednesday morning. He urged lawmakers to get a bail reform bill to Ayotte's desk as quickly as possible "and get these people off our streets."
"On what planet is it considered acceptable to stab another human being at least nine times, then be released back out onto our streets? This is unconscionable. Our police, our residents and our visitors are put at risk when criminals like this continue to be released, and it has to stop," he said.
In a separate release, he also later thanked Ayotte for making bail reform a priority.
"Keeping violent and repeat offenders behind bars is the foundation of public safety of our citizens is non-negotiable," he wrote. "We cannot wait for another tragedy like the recent stabbing in Manchester to demonstrate why Bail Reform is needed."
Bisson's public defender Ali Rosenblatt did not return and email Friday evening.