Suspect in Topeka Stabbing Spree Faces $3 Million Bond After Tripped by Bystander
Adam Schwegman is charged with 16 counts, including rape and aggravated battery, after attacking seven people over a two-hour period.
By Carlos Rousseau ·
Ron Hubbard, a Topeka resident, stepped out of the shadows to stop a man running through the grass at Ward Meade Park. Hubbard, who had noticed Schwegman acting strangely while hanging with a friend, threw his leg out to trip the suspect. Schwegman landed in the grass, and the knife he carried fell to the ground. Hubbard kicked the blade toward the sidewalk while his friend held Schwegman down. The suspect escaped, but police officers arrived shortly after to take him into custody.
Police records indicate that the two-hour spree on Wednesday, Oct. 28, left seven people injured. Schwegman is accused of stabbing two victims along S.W. Fillmore Avenue. An hour later, he moved up the same road and broke into two homes. Four children were inside one of the residences, including an infant who was four months old. Officials confirmed the children were not hurt during the break-ins.
The violence continued on a nearby street, where a third person was stabbed. The final attack occurred at Ward Meade Park, where a 70-year-old woman was hurt. Schwegman was fleeing the scene when Hubbard intervened. The suspect was booked on 16 charges, including aggravated battery and rape. The rape allegation is tied to the incident at S.W. Fillmore Avenue.
Hubbard said he reacted based on a television scenario he had previously watched. In that show, a delivery worker tripped a car thief during a police chase. Hubbard noted that Schwegman had also drawn the attention of another bystander who had seen the man at the park earlier. That person helped restrain Schwegman after Hubbard tripped him.
Schwegman appeared in court on Thursday, Oct. 29. A judge set his total bond at $3 million. The charge sheet includes 16 distinct counts related to the injuries and property entries. The four children found in the home on S.W. Fillmore Avenue were listed as present during the break-in but sustained no injuries.
Hubbard expressed relief that the intervention may have prevented additional harm. He stated that if a person sees something bad happening, they should try to stop it. He wished the group had reached the scene before the initial attacks occurred. The suspect remains in the Topeka jail system while awaiting further court proceedings.
