Bystanders held a man until police arrived after he allegedly tried to stab one person and cut two others in Crystal City last night (Monday).
Arlington County police were called to the 2100 block of S. Clark Street around 9:40 p.m. for a reported stabbing. A man had been taking things out of his car when the suspect walked up and tried to stab him, according to police. The victim ran away and wasn’t hurt.
The suspect then went to the 400 block of 23rd Street S., where police said he displayed a knife to a second man, who was cut during the struggle that followed.
Bystanders stepped in and held the suspect until officers arrived to take him into custody. According to scanner traffic, he was detained outside a 7-Eleven store on 23rd Street.
While searching the area, officers found a third man who had also been cut. Police said the second and third men were taken to the hospital with injuries that aren’t considered life-threatening. Officers recovered two folding knives at the scene.
David Lamont Bates, 48, of Arlington, was arrested and charged with two counts of malicious wounding and one count of attempted malicious wounding.
Bates has 14 convictions dating back to 2010, mostly misdemeanors, according to Virginia court records. Those include convictions for public intoxication in Fairfax County, Alexandria and Arlington, along with several for assault.
In 2020, he was charged with robbery in Arlington. That charge was reduced, and he was convicted of assault and battery.
More on Monday’s incident, below, from the latest ACPD crime report.
MALICIOUS WOUNDING, 2026-11090210, 2100 block of S. Clark Street. At approximately 9:38 p.m. on November 9, police were dispatched to the report of a stabbing. The preliminary investigation indicates that Victim One, an adult male, was removing items from a vehicle when the suspect approached and allegedly attempted to stab him before the victim was able to run from the area. The suspect then proceeded to the 400 block of 23rd Street S. where he approached Victim Two, an adult male, while displaying the knife. A struggle ensued during which Victim Two sustained a non-life threatening laceration. Bystanders intervened and restrained the suspect before arriving officers took him into custody. During a canvass of the area, officers located Victim Three, an adult male, suffering from a non-life threatening laceration. Victims Two and Three were transported to an area hospital for treatment of their non-life threatening injuries. Two folding knives were recovered at the scene. David Lamont Bates, 48, of Arlington, VA was arrested and charged with Malicious Wounding (x2) and Attempted Malicious Wounding.
