More details were revealed on what led to the moment when tents were slashed on Old Wheat Street days ago. The suspect was in court Wednesday afternoon and has now been banned from the area.
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“This is not the first time he’s exhibited this kind of concerning threatening behavior,” said prosecutors at the first appearance for 42 year-old Daniel Barnett.
They detailed previous charges of stalking against Barnett. The prosecutor then detailed what officers found when they were called to Old Wheat Street last week.
“Officers then made contact with multiple homeless victims who all reported that a security guard by the name DaVinci, later identified as the defendant, had routinely been harassing them, threatening them and intentionally damaging their belongings for the past two weeks,” said prosecutor Tracy Mokake.
Officers found several tents that were slashed and interviewed one homeless person living in the tents, who said she was inside when they were cut.
But the attorney for Barnett said he was there doing what he was hired to do.
“Mr. Barnett absolutely was hired by a construction company, I have the evidence,” said Barnett’s attorney, Jonathan Melnick.
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Barnett did not speak in court Wednesday. He’s charged with reckless conduct, as well as criminal trespass and damage to property.
Ultimately the judge decided to give Barnett a $60,000 surety bond. Barnett was banned from the area, prohibited from interacting with the victims and possessing any weapons.
“He doesn’t want to go back to work for these people with the situation arising to the level that it has,” said Melnick.
Barnett was out on bond on another aggravated stalking case. There is now a motion to revoke that bond after this arrest.
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