Suspect in 17-Victim Topeka Crime Spree Faces $3 Million Bond

A man accused of stabbing three people and breaking into two homes in Topeka faces a $3 million bond after a crime spree that police say involved 17 victims in total. Adam Schwegman made his first court appearance on Thursday, Oct. 29, where a judge set the high bail amount.

Topeka police say the incident began an hour before bystanders intervened, when Schwegman stabbed two individuals along S.W. Fillmore. His booking charges also include an allegation of rape at that address. Officers report that Schwegman then moved up the same road and broke into two houses. Four children were inside one of the homes, including a four-month-old infant. Officials stated the children were not hurt during the break-ins.

The attack continued on a nearby street where a third victim was stabbed. Schwegman then reached Ward Meade Park, where he attacked a 70-year-old woman. He fled the park on foot. Ron Hubbard, who was with a friend at the time, noticed Schwegman running and decided to act.

Hubbard described the moment he intervened. “I decided to step in, throw my leg out, trip him and he landed over here in the grass, and the knife fell in the grass,” Hubbard said. He kicked the blade toward the sidewalk while his friend held Schwegman. Schwegman escaped from the bystanders but was caught by police shortly after.

Hubbard said he was inspired by a television scenario he had seen previously, where a delivery worker tripped a car thief during a chase. “I was thinking about a scenario I seen on TV where a delivery guy did the same when the police was chasing a guy who stole a car,” Hubbard said. He noted that he and his friend confronted Schwegman because another bystander had previously seen him at the park.

Schwegman was booked on 16 charges, including aggravated battery and rape. The 17 victims cited by police include the three stabbed individuals and the others affected by the break-ins and attacks. The spree occurred on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Hubbard said he was glad to step in to prevent further harm. “Well, if you see something bad, try to help stop it. I wish we could have got to it before this happened,” Hubbard said.