Man charged after worker stabbed near Penn Valley Park in Kansas City
A 30-year-old Independence man is facing attempted robbery and assault charges after he allegedly stabbed a worker who was cleaning sidewalks near Penn Valley Park, according to a news release from prosecutors.
The Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office has charged Austin R. Lewis with attempted first-degree robbery, first-degree assault and two counts of armed criminal action.
If convicted, Lewis faces up to 15 years in prison for each of the attempted robbery and assault charges. He also faces additional, consecutive prison time if convicted of armed criminal action. Under Missouri law, the penalty for the first-time offense of armed criminal action is a term of three to 15 years, or five tgo 15 years, if the person unlawfully possessed a firearm.
Officers responded to the stabbing about 9:40 a.m. Sunday at East 27th and Main streets.
Arriving officers found a man suffering from stab wounds, said Sgt. Phil DiMartino, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department. Emergency medical crews took the man to a hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
According to court documents, the victim told detectives that he was cleaning sidewalks when a man, later identified as Lewis, approached and asked for a dollar. When the victim didn’t respond due to a language barrier, Lewis allegedly stabbed him and fled. A witness gave a corroborating account of what had happened.
Within five minutes, officers found Lewis less than two blocks from the stabbing, wearing the same clothing and a distinctive compass chain described by the victim and a witness. Before the victim was taken to a hospital, police conducted an on-scene identification, where the witness and the victim allegedly identified Lewis as the man who asked the victim for money and stabbed him.
When detectives tried to question Lewis, he refused to exit his cell and said he did not want to speak with detectives.
Lewis was being held in Jackson County jail on $100,000 cash-only bond.
