A stabbing defendant failed to appear for his trial, prompting DC Superior Court Justice Robert Salerno to issue a warrant for his arrest on Oct. 21.
William Clark, 45, is charged with two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts carrying a dangerous weapon for his alleged involvement in a stabbing on the 1600 block of Connecticut Avenue, NW on Sept. 9, 2023. One person was injured during the incident.
According to court documents, the stabbing allegedly occurred because Clark became irate upon seeing the victims stand near his parked e-bike. Clark is alleged to have drawn a knife during a verbal altercation with the victims and chased one away before turning and stabbing the other in the abdomen, according to court documents.
Parties in Clark’s case arrived to court on Oct. 21 ready to select a jury and deliver opening statements for a stabbing incident that is now more than two years old. Missing from the proceedings, though, was Clark himself whose absence could not be explained by his attorney, Steven Polin.
Judge Salerno quickly issued a bench warrant for Clark, who had also missed the previous day’s pre-trial hearing. While issuing the warrant, Judge Salerno said he could understand why Clark may have missed the pre-trial hearing but that there was no explanation for failing to appear on his first day of trial.
“I don’t understand why he’s not here this morning,” Judge Salerno said.
Clark has been arrested off of bench warrants twice previously in this case, according to court documents.
Parties are slated to reconvene when US Marshals have Clark in custody.
