Police have arrested a man for a stabbing in Petworth in northwest D.C., and are investigating whether he is responsible for a series of alleged stabbings in the neighborhood.
Garey Jones III, 20, of northwest Washington, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon for an attack that occurred in the 1100 block of Allison Street Wednesday. Jones appeared in court Saturday afternoon and was ordered held without bond.
“We feel very comfortable that this is the person responsible for the attacks," said Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier at a Saturday afternoon press conference.
As many as four women had said they been attacked and stabbed during May and June in Northwest.
Police had sought the public's help in finding the attacker, but Lanier said in the end it was dogged detective work that led to Jones' arrest.
Detectives had been patrolling the area where the attacks were reported. On Thursday, after 11 p.m. at 7th Street and Sherman Circle, "They observed a person in the area whose behavior seemed out of place," Lanier said.
When the detectives approached the person, they realized he matched a description given by the victims, Lanier said. The detectives got a search warrant, and based on evidence produced in the search, they then got an arrest warrant.
“It was extremely good detective work by the detectives," Lanier said. "There was a lot of investigative work to be done to put together what they needed to get a search warrant, and then the arrest warrant.”
At court, a lawyer for Jones said that the victim could not identify his client.
Lanier replied: “I feel pretty comfortable, based on evidence that has been recovered, that once the evidence that has been gathered is analyzed, that we will have a very strong case.”
She would not comment on motive or on specific evidence, but said there was “pretty significant evidence recovered.”
News4's Darcy Spencer reported that the evidence included bloody clothing and a pocketknife.
Police also recovered medication that is used to treat serious mental disorders, Spencer reported. Lanier said in her press conference that police were aware even before the arrest that a suspect may have been receiving mental health care.
The four attacks happened May 5, June 10 and June 14, all in the Northwest.
"It's a little surreal. I'm a little banged up," the victim of the Allison Street attack had previously told News4.
That attack happened at about 12:15 a.m. The victim was walking along Allison Street when a suspect approached her from behind and tackled her to the ground. The suspect produced a sharp object, cut the victim, and fled, police said.
"I was thrown into a car," the woman told News4's Shomari Stone. "I ended up on the ground on my back and he just started to stab me on my stomach, my arms and up and down my left side."
Stay with News4 and NBCWashington for more on this developing story.