Suspect in Fresno Courthouse Park stabbing appears before judge

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- On Wednesday afternoon, Dustin Crawford appeared in court for a scheduled arraignment, accused of stabbing a prosecutor last Thursday.

The alleged attack happened in Downtown Fresno's courthouse park while the prosecutor was taping a campaign commercial.

In a press conference, District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said Crawford was acting in retaliation for a conviction in a past case handled by the injured prosecutor.

"This person has had many run-ins with the law in very similar situations, and the prosecutors and police have probably done everything they possibly could," said Smittcamp.

In court, the hearing didn't last very long. Crawford was officially appointed a defense attorney and the arraignment was rescheduled for September 9.

Action News was not allowed to show Crawford's face in the courtroom but as he sat there, his brother and aunt took a seat.

His family did not want to speak on camera but opened up about the heartbreak they're experiencing, as well.

Crawford's brother told Action News he doesn't condone his brother's actions but does admit that seeing a video of his brother on an ambulance stretcher was difficult to process.

He also says his brother has mental health problems, shedding light on the reality the family has faced for years despite Smittcamp saying Crawford was not a mentally ill person.

"He did not attack a stranger because he had rage or voices, he knew this person," said Smittcamp.

Smittcamp still addressing that there is a need for more mental health care overall.

"There are many people in the world who are mentally ill and there should be a place for them to have proper care in mental health courts," said Smittcamp.

The Tulare County District Attorney's Office will be handling the case.

In the meantime, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office has added more patrol officers surrounding the courthouse and says there are conversations in play to further protect employees.

"I have been in contact with individuals with the city of Fresno and the county of Fresno and we are looking at permitting our city attorney's, our public defenders, our DAs and others to carry concealed weapons in county facilities," said Fresno County Sheriff John Zanoni.

The injured attorney has been released from the hospital and is recovering from three stab wounds to the back.

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