Randy Hughes Banks, a 53-year-old man who police say is homeless and who was arrested twice over the weekend of May 2-3 and then set free, was found early last Thursday morning on an Aberdeen street suffering from stab wounds.
Banks, who has since been released from the hospital, has a long history with law enforcement, with cases dating back to at least 1983, according to the online court records. Most, if not all, of his charges have been misdemeanors, handled in Harford County District Court.
Banks was arrested May 2 by Aberdeen Police and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and a drug other than marijuana and two counts each of trespassing, disorderly conduct and having an alcoholic beverage in a retail area, according to court records.
Banks was arrested the next day, Sunday, again by Aberdeen Police, who charged him with having an alcoholic beverage in a retail area and having an open container of alcohol in a retail establishment. He was taken to the Harford County Detention Center, where a District Court commissioner released him without required Banks to post bond, according to court records.
He appeared before Harford County District Court Judge Victor Butanis for a bail review May 4.
"Back at it again, Mr. Banks?" Butanis asked.
Banks listed his address as being in the 400 block of Washington Street, "with a young lady friend," he told Butanis; however, police have said Banks is homeless.
"If I release you, are you going to behave yourself?" the judge asked.
To which Banks replied: "Yes sir, all I want is my freedom. I missed church yesterday."
"That's what you told me the last 20 times," Butanis said, before telling Banks he would release him on his own recognizance and urging him to go to church.
As Banks got up, Butanis said "see you back here in a couple days."
Early last Thursday morning, Aberdeen Police were called to the 100 block of South Parke Street for a report of a stabbing. That's where they found Banks, who had been stabbed in the chest/rib cage area, lying on the sidewalk, according to Cpl. Shannon Persuhn, of the Aberdeen Police Department.
Banks was treated by paramedics from the Aberdeen Fire Department then taken by ambulance to the Joppa-Magnolia Volunteer Fire Company, where he was flown by Maryland State Police Medevac to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, Persuhn said.
It did not appear Banks was stabbed on Parke Street, but was likely dropped off there, Persuhn said. Banks was not cooperative in providing suspect information to police, she added.
A hospital spokesperson said Monday that Banks had been released.
Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to call Aberdeen Police Det. Divel at 410-272-2121.