Charlotte stabbing suspect faced 18 criminal charges over past decade

A North Carolina man The man accused of stabbing another person in broad daylight had faced more than 18 felony charges over the past decade, including assault-related cases and domestic violence convictions, before the latest violent incident, court records show.

Micah Emmanuel Ragin, 31, was charged with assault with a deadly weapon causing serious injury following an altercation on February 28 in east Charlotte.

According to police, officers responded to a 911 call reporting an assault with a knife. When they arrived, they found a man with a stab wound to his knee. Investigators say the suspect disposed of the bag and knife in a nearby creek and then reboarded a city bus as it was leaving the area.

Authorities later found the bus and identified Rajin as the suspect after reviewing security footage of the transport. Officers found a kitchen knife from Al Khor in the area shown in the video. During an interview, police said Ragin admitted to being involved in a physical altercation but did not admit to the stabbing.

Micah Emanuel Ragin, 31, was arrested and charged with assault with a deadly weapon resulting in serious injury in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office)

A review of North Carolina court records shows Ragin’s interactions with law enforcement dating back to at least 2015 and spanning multiple counties.

In 2016, he pleaded guilty to violating a domestic violence protective order, and was sentenced to 24 days in jail and a court-ordered no-contact condition.

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In previous years, he was charged in separate cases with assaulting a female, assaulting a campus police officer, making threats and resisting a public servant. Many of those cases were ultimately dismissed, including multiple charges in 2019 that court records state were “unable to prosecute due to court closures due to the coronavirus.”

Records also show convictions for misdemeanor drug and trespassing.

In all, court records indicate Ragin faced more than 18 charges in several counties over several years prior to the current criminal charge.

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The appeal comes months later Fatal murder A young woman aboard a Charlotte light rail train — a case that has drawn national attention and intensified debate about repeat offenders and criminal justice policies in the pandemic era.

Irina Zarutska cowers as her attacker hovers above her. (NewsNation via Charlotte Area Transit System)

That earlier case involved a defendant who was under state supervision at the time of the attack and led to scrutiny of the 2021 coronavirus-era prison settlement negotiated during the administration of former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. The agreement authorized the early release or transfer of approximately 3,500 prisoners. Republican officials claimed the agreement freed dangerous criminals, while state officials said the settlement primarily targeted medically fragile and nonviolent inmates.

State corrections officials also said that the defendant in the light rail case was not released early as a result of that settlement and that he completed his mandatory minimum sentence, even though his name appeared on the list related to the settlement because of retroactive eligibility criteria.

Republican officials They argued that the cases reflect broader concerns about repeat offenders across the system, while Democrats have defended the pandemic-era decisions as necessary public health measures.

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Republican Michael Whatley, left; Democrat Roy Cooper, right. (Angela Weiss/AFP via Getty Images; Jacek Poczarski/Anadolu via Getty Images)

“Micah Ragin was arrested and put back on the streets 18 times too many times — including as part of then-Gov. Roy Cooper’s coronavirus mass prisoner release,” Rep. Mark Harris, R-R., said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“Have pro-crime Democrats in Charlotte learned nothing from Irina’s tragic murder? How many more victims will it take to finally keep criminals behind bars? The Queen City has been tainted by preventable crime – they’re lucky this isn’t the next Irina Zarutska.”

Nick Polia, regional press secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, echoed similar criticisms.

“Once again, Roy Cooper’s soft-crime policies allowed a violent career criminal to roam free, leading to a vicious rampage,” said Nick Bollea, regional press secretary for the National Republican Senatorial Committee. “Cooper is coddling criminals and North Carolinians are paying the price.”

Republican candidate for the US Senate, Michael Whatley, criticized what he described as “soft on crime” policies.

“Criminals belong behind bars. As a senator, I will always support blue and fight to keep our communities safe,” Whatley said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

Cooper, who previously served two terms as North Carolina’s governor and is now running for U.S. Senate, defended his public safety record.

A Cooper campaign spokesman said he served for 16 years as North Carolina’s attorney general, the state’s top law enforcement official, prosecuting gangs and violent criminals. Cooper signed legislation strengthening bail laws to ensure criminals serve their time, toughening penalties for drug dealers who sell lethal doses, and approving pay increases for law enforcement officers, the governor’s spokesman said.

Cooper’s campaign has previously defended the pandemic-era decisions as necessary public health measures and denied that coronavirus-related policies led to dangerous criminals being released early.

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I hope A felony case is pendingOfficials have not announced a trial date.

Fox News Digital reached out to Cooper’s campaign but did not immediately receive a response.

Stephenie Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicides and immigrant crimes. Send story tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.

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