Howard McNiff arrested after stabbing postal worker at Carmel, NY post office

On July 30, 2026, a suspect attacked a United States Postal Service employee with a knife inside the post office on Fair Street in the hamlet of Carmel, New York. Putnam County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrived within minutes, encountered the armed suspect and deployed a Taser to subdue him, allowing the suspect to be taken into custody without further incident.

The victim was transported by private vehicle to a local hospital with non‑life‑threatening injuries. Police identified the suspect as Howard McNiff, 38, of Rockland County. He was charged with one count of second‑degree attempted murder, two counts of second‑degree assault and one count of fourth‑degree criminal possession of a weapon. The investigation is being conducted by Carmel Police detectives, with assistance from the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. Fair Street between Route 52 and Vink Drive was closed for about two hours while investigators processed the scene.