Cops: Arrest in stabbing at St. James Funeral Home

A Patchogue man faces an assault charge in connection with a stabbing at a St. James funeral home, Suffolk County police said.

Rafael Rojas Jr., 37, was arrested late Monday after a man was stabbed shortly before 8 p.m. at St. James Funeral Home, 829 Middle Country Rd., police said.

Police did not have details of the stabbing but said the victim was taken to Stony Brook University Hospital with nonlife-threatening injuries.

Rojas was arraigned Tuesday at First District Court in Central Islip and held pending a bail of $120,000 bond or $40,000 cash. An order of protection was also issued against him.

Fire officials said they believe the stabbing victim was involved in a dispute during a service Monday night.

The Nesconset Fire Department responded to the call, said Albert Anderson, an assistant chief with the department.

First responders found a man sitting on the floor inside the funeral home with a stab wound to his back, bleeding but breathing, Anderson said, describing the injury as a surface wound. A service was in progress at the time, Anderson said.

A man who answered the phone at the funeral home declined to comment.

With Ellen Yan and

Lauren R. Harrison