Topeka man faces 16 charges after stabbing three people during crime spree

Ron Hubbard tripped a stranger on Wednesday, Oct. 28, after the man had already stabbed three people and broken into two homes in Topeka, Kansas. The suspect, identified as Adam Schwegman, is now facing 16 charges connected to the incidents. The attack began approximately one hour before Hubbard intervened, leaving multiple residents shaken by the rapid sequence of violent events.

Topeka Police Department records indicate Schwegman stabbed two people along S.W. Fillmore. His booking charges also include an allegation of rape at that same address. He then moved up the road and broke into two houses. Four children were inside one of those homes, including an infant who was four months old. Officials confirmed the children were not hurt during the intrusion. A third victim was stabbed on a nearby street, and a 70-year-old woman was attacked at Ward Meade Park, the final stop in the spree before Schwegman fled on foot.

Hubbard was hanging out with a friend when he noticed Schwegman acting strangely. He recalled seeing the man at the park earlier. Hubbard and his friend confronted the suspect. Hubbard stepped in, threw his leg out, and tripped Schwegman. The suspect landed in the grass, and his knife fell into the vegetation. Hubbard kicked the knife onto the sidewalk while his friend held Schwegman down. The suspect eventually escaped the temporary hold, but police officers arrived shortly after to take him into custody.

Hubbard said he acted on instinct, comparing the situation to a scene from television where a delivery driver stopped a car thief. He expressed relief that he could 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.

Schwegman appeared in court for his first hearing on Thursday, Oct. 29. The judge set a total bond of $3 million. The charges include aggravated battery and rape. Police have not announced a specific date for the next court appearance, though the case remains active as prosecutors review the evidence from the multiple crime scenes.

The incident highlights the risk posed to residents in the S.W. Fillmore area, where the spree began. Local officials are urging witnesses to come forward with details about the suspect's movements between the initial stab and the final attack at the park. The four children who were home during the break-in are now in the care of their guardians, and the 70-year-old woman is recovering from her injuries.

Hubbard plans to return to the area where he tripped the suspect, a spot in the grass near the park entrance. He said the location is still marked by the memory of the encounter. Police have released the name of the suspect and the charges to the public to help identify any additional witnesses who may have seen Schwegman that day.