An arrest was made Friday by Austin Police Department officers in connection with one of two stabbings in the city last week.

A 20-year-old man was arrested Friday afternoon by police.

He is being held in the Mower County Jail, pending a court appearance this week.

Mower County Attorney Patrick A. Oman will review evidence and statements collected to decide what assault charges to file.

A 16-year-old Austin male juvenile was stabbed in the incident July 14, at a northwest Austin residence.

The suspect told police he was assaulted at the residence with people wielding wooden dowels and a paint gun. The assault occurred after a confrontation and words were exchanged.

He used a knife to defend himself, according to his statement to police.

According to the Austin Police Department, the investigation is continuing.

Plans have been made for a public meeting to discuss growing concerns about neighborhood violence in Austin.

That meeting will take place beginning 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in Austin City Council chambers at the Austin Municipal Building.

Austin Police Chief Paul M. Philipp and 1st Ward Council Member Mickey Jorgenson are hosting the meeting to discuss the possible formation of a neighborhood watch program in the aftermath of the two stabbing incidents last week.

Capt. Curt Rude, second in command at the Austin Police Department, is in charge of assigning detective and other officers to investigations among other duties.

Rude said the stabbing incidents are being aggressively investigated and said Friday's arrest of a suspect shows how hard police are working on the cases.

Rude also addressed the role of police in the community.

"We strive for a quality of life for all citizens to live in peace and to protect and serve everyone," he said.

The stabbing incidents have led to citizens' complaints to the authorities and local media about public safety issues.

On Sunday, July 14, a 16-year-old juvenile male was stabbed by a lone man at 609 11th St. NW.

On Tuesday, July 16, a group of males ran into the same northwest Austin yard, where a group of six or seven people were gathered.

According to police reports from witnesses, the attackers brandished baseball bats, knives and bottles.

Two people were stabbed and another suffered head wounds from a baseball bat.

Witnesses, who were described as a multi-racial group of African Americans and Caucasians said their attackers were "all white" and shouted the word "wood," which they said referred to the Inland Empire Peckerwood organization, according to police reports.

The organization founded in northern California is known as a caucasian-only white supremacist group.

Austin Police Chief Paul NM. Philipp told reporters last week, he believed the attacks were not racially-motivated, but "I wouldn't rule out that possibility."

The police chief speculated the fights "had more to do with drugs than anything else."

Philipp and other law enforcement spokespersons all say the Inland Empire is taking a growing presence in the area.

Austin police confirm they have had several incidents of graffiti attributed to the Inland Empire organization in the last year.

The group's symbol -- an erect penis -- with the letters "IE" has appeared on bridges, buildings, walls and the residence of law enforcement officers.

A man authorities identify as one of the leaders of the local organization, Peter Noe, 25 of Lyle, has appeared in court on criminal charges, displaying the tattooed initials "IE" on the back of his head.

Noe has also appeared on a local television station's newscasts, denying the existence of organized gangs in Austin and denying the Inland Empire's involvement in the stabbing incidents.

Two of the incidents' stabbing victims were treated and released from Austin Medical Center Hospital. A third remains hospitalized this weekend at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester. The fourth victim who suffered head wounds from a baseball bat beating was treated and released from the Austin hospital.

Lee Bonorden can be reached at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com