A Franklin man is facing charges after he was accused of slashing the tire of a 10-year-old girl's bicycle.Click to watch News 9's coverage.Franklin police said Michael Rapaglia, 39, threatened to slash the tire and, moments later, followed through.Police said the incident started when the girl ran over Rapaglia's foot. Neighbors said the girl was riding on Spring Street very closely to Rapaglia, a man they said she often joked with.After she ran over his foot once, police said, he threatened to pop her tire."It allegedly happened again, so Mr. Rapaglia pulled out a folding knife and slashed her tire," said Sgt. Daniel Poirier.Witnesses said the girl appeared startled by the knife and immediately ran to her uncle, who said he had thought Rapaglia was kidding around."I tried talking to him, but he didn't want to talk to me," said her uncle, Michael Hamilton."The mother came out and said, 'Look, you owe her an apology. Buy her a new tire, and that's it,'" said neighbor Aletheia Murphy. "He got in her face, and it escalated from there."Police were called, and Rapaglia was arrested. Police said he told them he was a felon, and officers discovered he had a conviction out of Massachusetts. For this incident, he now faces even more felony charges."We see a lot of different things as police officers, but this one is at the top of the list," Poirier said. "That a grown man would actually slash a juvenile's tire, it's kind of unbelievable."Rapaglia made bail but is not allowed back to his apartment on Spring Street or within 300 feet of the girl.Franklin police said they are getting the girl a new bike.

A Franklin man is facing charges after he was accused of slashing the tire of a 10-year-old girl's bicycle.

Click to watch News 9's coverage.


Franklin police said Michael Rapaglia, 39, threatened to slash the tire and, moments later, followed through.

Police said the incident started when the girl ran over Rapaglia's foot. Neighbors said the girl was riding on Spring Street very closely to Rapaglia, a man they said she often joked with.

After she ran over his foot once, police said, he threatened to pop her tire.

"It allegedly happened again, so Mr. Rapaglia pulled out a folding knife and slashed her tire," said Sgt. Daniel Poirier.

Witnesses said the girl appeared startled by the knife and immediately ran to her uncle, who said he had thought Rapaglia was kidding around.

"I tried talking to him, but he didn't want to talk to me," said her uncle, Michael Hamilton.

"The mother came out and said, 'Look, you owe her an apology. Buy her a new tire, and that's it,'" said neighbor Aletheia Murphy. "He got in her face, and it escalated from there."

Police were called, and Rapaglia was arrested. Police said he told them he was a felon, and officers discovered he had a conviction out of Massachusetts. For this incident, he now faces even more felony charges.

"We see a lot of different things as police officers, but this one is at the top of the list," Poirier said. "That a grown man would actually slash a juvenile's tire, it's kind of unbelievable."

Rapaglia made bail but is not allowed back to his apartment on Spring Street or within 300 feet of the girl.

Franklin police said they are getting the girl a new bike.