A 21-year-old Albert Lea man was arrested Saturday night following an alleged stabbing at City Beach, according to the Albert Lea Police Department.

Roberts

Joseph Alan Roberts, 21, of Albert Lea was arrested near Katherine Island for second- and third-degree assault. He appears in Tuesday at the Freeborn County Courthouse. As of Sunday afternoon, he was in the Freeborn County jail.

The alleged victim is Ehric Barnes, 21, of Albert Lea.

According to police, an officer went to lock up the skate park at City Beach at 10:36 p.m. when he noticed two men shaking hands and appearing as if they had been in a fight. Roberts and Barnes denied it, and the officer sent them on their way. Roberts went in one direction and Barnes left in another, accord to police.

Two other people came by, and the officer asked them if they had witnessed a fight. They, too, denied that it happened.

Soon, Barnes returned in need of help because of a stab wound in his abdomen. He hadn’t realized he had been in a fight, according to Albert Lea police.

“He thought he had been hit hard,” said Lt. Jeff Strom of the Albert Lea Police Department, in describing the incident report.

The investigating officer found Roberts walking along Albert Lea Street by Katherine Island. Strom said Roberts and Barnes know each other.

A county prosecutor will determine if Barnes also faces a charge as a result of the alleged fighting. Strom said the injuries were deemed not to be life-threatening.