New London ― State police arrested a Groton man who they say stabbed another man Wednesday in the Hodges Square area.

State police charged Richard Nieves, 55, with second-degree assault and second-degree breach of peace.

The victim suffered non-life threatening injuries, state police said Thursday.

Police said after the stabbing, detectives had located Nieves at a residence in Groton City, where he confessed and explained that he had stabbed the man over a conflict related to personal property.

Witnesses has said they saw the stabbed man, who police have not identified, collapse onto a sidewalk in front of several businesses with what appeared to be a stab wound to his torso. New London police confirmed the stabbing but referred questions to state police because it occurred on state property.

New London Police received calls about a reported stabbing at about 12:20 p.m. Police and fire department personnel arrived to find the man face down in the vicinity of 393 Williams St., in the front of Hodges Square Wine & Spirits, which is at the corner of State Pier Road.

New London police used yellow crime scene tape to block off a portion of the sidewalk where the man was found and could be seen cordoning off an area across the street under the Interstate 95 overpass, where there is a small homeless encampment.

Local and state police officers were walking around a tent where some eyewitnesses said the victim lived.

The area under the bridge is state property. State police from Troop E in Montville were called to the scene at 1:14 p.m. and “advised of a non-active assault which had occurred on state property in the area of the Gold Star Bridge in New London,” state police said in a statement.

State police said there is no ongoing threat to the public.

“It’s sad,” Betty Wise, a nearby resident, said. “I’m holding back tears and I don’t even know who he was.”

Wise said there are numerous homeless encampments in the area and she will often cook meals and deliver them to anyone who is in need.

“I’m just praying he is alright,” Wise said.

Nieves was held on a $50,000 bond and was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday in New London Superior Court.

g.smith@theday.com