A woman riding in a car with two acquaintances on Madison's east side was cut with a knife after one of them demanded her money and belongings, and fled the vehicle before her attackers sped off, leaving her to be treated at a hospital for her injuries. The attack happened around 11:35 p.m. Saturday in the 3000 block of Darbo Drive, according to police.
According to WMTV 15 News, the victim was riding in a vehicle with two women she knew when one of them pulled out a knife and demanded her money and belongings. She managed to escape from the car during the encounter, and the suspects then drove away, leaving her behind. Madison police have arrested two people in connection with the armed robbery, though the department has not released their names.
The investigation remains ongoing, and it is not yet known whether the suspect vehicle or any of the victim's stolen property has been recovered, or whether formal charges have been filed.
What Wisconsin Law Says About Knife-Involved Robbery
If the suspects are ultimately convicted, the alleged use of a knife could carry heavy consequences under state law. Armed robbery involving a dangerous weapon such as a knife is classified as a Class C felony under Wisconsin Statute § 943.32(2), carrying a maximum penalty of up to 40 years in state prison — split into as much as 25 years of initial confinement and 15 years of extended supervision — along with a fine of up to $100,000, according to Stangl Law Offices.
By comparison, robbery committed without a dangerous weapon is a Class E felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $50,000 fine, meaning the presence or threat of a knife can increase potential prison exposure by 25 years, per the same analysis. Stangl Law Offices also notes that under Wisconsin case law, a defendant can still be convicted of Class C armed robbery even if a victim never actually sees a weapon, so long as the victim reasonably believed from the circumstances that a dangerous weapon was present.
A Block With a History of Violent Incidents
The city has a Darbo / Worthington Neighborhood Resource Team focused on the area, according to the City of Madison. The block also functions as a hub for local social services, notably housing the Salvation Army of Dane County community center at 3030 Darbo Drive, as reported by Madison365.
The corridor has seen violent incidents before. In October 2020, a 32-year-old man using a wheelchair was punched, robbed of cash and medication, and pushed into Starkweather Creek near North Marquette Street, according to the Wisconsin State Journal. Months earlier, in July 2020, officers responded to the same block after a woman drove her car into another vehicle and onto a curb, nearly striking bystanders during an ongoing physical fight, the Wisconsin State Journal reported at the time.
How to Submit Tips
Police have not released the names of the suspects, and the investigation into Saturday's robbery continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers at (608) 266-6014 or submit a tip online at p3tips.com. Tips may be shared anonymously and could qualify for a monetary reward if an arrest is made.
