A 30-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after what police describe as a stabbing and phone theft outside the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Northwest Washington. D.C. Library Police detained the suspect at the scene, and Metropolitan Police later took him into custody. Officials have not yet released details on the extent of the victim’s injuries.
According to WJLA, police identified the suspect as 30-year-old Isiah Robert Barnes. Investigators say the confrontation started just before 5 p.m. when the victim bumped into Barnes and an argument broke out. Police allege that Barnes pulled a knife, stabbed the other man, grabbed the victim’s phone and then ran off, before D.C. Library Police caught up with him a short time later.
Library police at MLK Library
D.C. Public Library employs special police officers and enforces a code of conduct that allows staff and Library Police to step in when prohibited behavior occurs in or around library buildings. The system’s rules specify that Library Police and Metropolitan Police Department officers may be called to handle thefts, assaults and similar incidents at the central library, according to DC Public Library.
What investigators say
Police say Barnes was arrested and is facing charges of assault with a dangerous weapon, theft and possession of an open container, according to WJLA. Authorities say the investigation is still active and have not released additional information.
Next steps
The case remains under investigation, and court scheduling details were not immediately available. Hoodline will monitor public records and police updates for any new developments.
