Man stabbed officer after escaping custody and crashing car, Columbia police say
A law enforcement officer was stabbed Monday during a South Carolina man’s crime spree that included escaping from custody as well as stealing and crashing a car among other offenses, according to the Columbia Police Department.
The officer’s injury was not life-threatening, police said in a news release. He was taken to an area hospital for treatment and later discharged the same day, according to the release.
Brian R. King remains behind bars at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, police said. Richland County court records show that the 44-year-old Lexington resident was charged with multiple crimes from Monday’s rampage, including:
▪ Assault & battery of a high and aggravated nature
▪ Resisting arrest with a deadly weapon
▪ Assault on an officer while resisting arrest
▪ Possession of a weapon during a violent crime
▪ First-degree burglary
▪ Auto-breaking
▪ Grand larceny
▪ Malicious injury to real property
▪ Escape
The original incident
At about 11:30 a.m. Monday, officers responded to a report of a man, later identified as King, who was vandalizing a business in the 1200 block of Elmwood Avenue, police said. That’s near the intersection with Main Street, a block away from Assembly Street.
The business owner repeatedly asked King to leave, according to the release. King, who was described as being irate, refused to leave and attempted to hit the business owner with a metal object, police said.
The business owner was not hurt and King turned his attention elsewhere, attempting to break into a building next door, according to the release.
Crime spree
When officers found King, he tried to run away but was caught, police said. As he was being taken into custody, King was combative and tried to avoid being arrested, according to the release.
He was arrested, and as a precaution King was taken to a hospital by ambulance then escaped custody, police said.
Additional officers, including a K-9 team, were called to help find King, according to the release.
King ran into the Elmwood neighborhood and attempted to break into a home in the 1000 block of Pope Street, police said. While there, King stole a car and crashed it into a street sign, according to the release.
During his crime spree, King broke into an unoccupied house and stole a pocketknife, police said.
A short time later, an officer found King and tried to arrest him, according to the release. King used the stolen pocketknife to stab the officer in the upper arm, police said.
Though injured, the officer managed to arrest King, according to the release. Additional backup officers secured King inside a patrol vehicle, police said.
No bond has been set for King, who remains locked up at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, jail records show. Following a bond hearing, King is scheduled to return to court on Aug. 29, according to judicial records.
Criminal record
King has a lengthy criminal history with 26 arrests from nine law enforcement agencies, according to the release.
Police said King has been convicted for 23 offenses, including drug possession, domestic violence, hit-and-run with great bodily injury, and probation violation.
King is also federally prohibited from possessing a firearm, police said.
BEHIND THE STORY
MOREThis is a breaking news story
In a breaking news situation, facts can be unclear and the situation may still be developing. The State is trying to get important information to the public as quickly and accurately as possible. This story will be updated as more information becomes available, and some information in this story may change as the facts become clearer. Refresh this page later for more updated information.
