Philadelphia man charged in fatal assault at Bensalem beer distributor

A Philadelphia man is accused of killing a former co-worker, a Morrisville man he had previously had an altercation with at a Bensalem Wendy's in January, police said Thursday.

Dominique Isaac Harris is facing criminal homicide and possession of instruments of a crime charges in the incident. He was arraigned and sent to Bucks County prison without bail on Thursday.

Bensalem police announced Thursday afternoon that the body of the victim was discovered near the Cornwells Train Station, which is roughly two miles from where the assault took place.

Police identified the victim as Michael Pickens, 54, of Morrisville.

During a news conference Thursday, Bensalem Director of Public Safety William McVey said Pickens was stabbed multiple times in the parking lot of the Bensalem Beer and Soda store at the corner of Hulmeville and Street roads about 1:30 a.m.

Surveillance footage showed Harris repeatedly stabbing him and then leaving, according to McVey. Harris then came back with a car and ran Pickens over two times, picked him up and put him into the back of his car and left, he said.

Pickens, who works at a nearby Wendy's, was taking the trash out there when the assault happened, according to police.

Harris was found in his vehicle in Philadelphia by a Philadelphia Police officer Wednesday night, McVey said. Police said Harris had blood in the backseat of his vehicle and he had a large cut on his right hand. Pickens was not in the vehicle. His body was found later at the Cornwells Train Station.

McVey told reporters Harris had previously worked at the Wendy's with Pickens. In late January, Harris and Pickens got into a fight at the restaurant, resulting in Harris being cited with harassment and fired, the public safety director said.