KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A man is accused of stabbing a Kansas City police officer while suffering what appears to be a mental health crisis.
Twenty-four-year-old Austin Lewis, from Independence, was charged Thursday with first-degree assault and armed crime. The bond is set at $ 200,000 cash. There are no lawyers registered for him in the online court records.
A police detective wrote in a statement that the probable cause of the stabbing occurred Wednesday after the officer was sent on a medical call in downtown Kansas City and saw Lewis snort an unknown substance. Officers were waiting with Lewis for an ambulance, when Lewis reached into his pants pocket, took out a kitchen knife and stabbed the officer in the chest, the statement said.
Officers then detained the man at gunpoint until more officers arrived, and injured officers were taken to hospital for treatment. The officer is recovering.
Lewis told police that he killed himself and tried to kill himself panting when he was approached by officers. He said he heard voices, was frightened and felt cornered by officers and stabbed him.
Police said the incident did not appear to be related to the protest held in Kansas City.
