BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The search is over for a stabbing suspect believed to be involved in three separate stabbings in the downtown area.
Police say 23-year-old, Anthony Lewis Jr. was arrested 19th and R Street in Central Bakersfield Thursday night, just moments before it appeared he was about to strike again. Police say they saw Lewis following a woman walking alone just after nine p.m. but units moved in quickly and arrested him.
Police said Lewis was carrying a knife and wearing the same clothing as the man seen in surveillance video obtained exclusively by 23ABC News from Tuesday night on the corner of 19th and O Street. Police say the person seen walking in the black hoodie was following a woman walking by herself shortly before attacking her with a knife. The woman was taken to the hospital for major injuries, police say she remains in critical but stable condition as of now.
However, the shocking twist to the story came into the 23ABC Newsroom late Thursday night, when Bakersfield Police announced that they were also linking Lewis to a previous stabbing on Kentucky Street and a previous stabbing on 21st Street.
All three stabbings left transient women with major injuries but police say all three women are expected to survive.
According to police Lewis does not have a criminal history in Kern County but they do believe he has committed crimes elsewhere.
Lewis was booked on three counts of attempted murder along with several other felony charges. He is currently residing in the Kern County Jail where his bail is set for more than one million dollars. As of now Lewis is set to appear in Kern County Superior court on April 27.
