[Updated] Police: Plantsville Woman Used Christmas Ornament as a Weapon

Updated: Nov. 28, 3:28 p.m.

Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time of year, but decorations took on a new role for a Plantsville woman over the weekend after she used a stolen ornament to stab another local woman in the arm at a craft fair held in the Aqua Turf.

Officers arrested Ruth Wagner, of 127 Burritt St. on Sunday afternoon following the alleged theft and stabbing. She was booked on charges of first-degree robbery, second-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, second-degree breach of peace and sixth-degree larceny.

Wagner, 55, was released after posting a $100,000 bond according to records.

Sgt. Lowell DePalma said Monday that Wagner was attending a craft fair at when the incident occurred. After allegedly stealing several fair items, she was approached by a fair vendor and attempted to run away.

“A woman who was working as a jewelry vendor had seen (Wagner) hanging around her table and suspected she may have taken a piece of jewelry that was missing. When Wagner returned to the area, she watched her steal a seashell ornament and confronted her,” DePalma said.

Wagner began to run after being confronted, police said, and yelled, “stop her” as she tried to get away. Another vendor stepped in front of Wagner to block her path, witnesses said, and Wagner proceeded to stab the woman in the arm with the ornament.

She left in a red car, but witnesses were able to obtain the license plate number and called police.

The victim’s injuries were non-life threatening, police said, but were considered fairly serious. A piece of the ornament, a handcrafted seashell, was left stuck inside the victims arm. She was taken by ambulance to the Hospital of Central Connecticut, Bradley Campus and released after treatment, police said.

The name of the victim is being withheld at this time.

“We aren’t talking about a scratch on the arm here. This was a fairly serious injury she suffered,” DePalma said. “(Wagner) was followed by another witnesses who got license plate and relayed it to police. We found her at her home and were able to make an arrest."

In all, Wagner had taken $91 worth of jewelry, Christmas decorations and other items from various vendors at the fair.

Wagner is due for arraignment in Bristol Superior Court on Dec. 5.