SPRINGDALE -- A masked man was arrested Monday after witnesses said he entered the Springdale Public Library wearing knives.
Maxwell Dempster, 22, of 2307 Christine St. in Springdale was at the Springdale Public Library on Monday with a silver mask over his face and two knives hanging from his belt, said Lt. Scott Lewis, public information officer for the Springdale Police Department. He also had a backpack with a pipe in it that was exposed.
He left the library, and officers found him riding a black moped at the intersection of Maple Avenue and Maple Drive, according to a report. Dempster told officers that he was carrying the knives on his belt as protection from people at Murphy Park. He refused to answer officers' questions about why he was wearing a mask.
Officers also found two more knives in Dempster's backpack, according to the report.
Dempster was arrested in connection with misdemeanor disorderly conduct and carrying a prohibited weapon, Lewis said. Dempster was released from the Springdale jail at 11:05 p.m. Monday with his signature to appear in court at a later date.
Metro on 07/29/2015