Police in Washington, D.C., made an arrest after releasing a photo of the suspect in the alleged assault of Rep. Angie Craig (D-MN) in an elevator at her apartment building Thursday morning.
In sharing the surveillance camera image, the Metropolitan Police Department asked the public for assistance in identifying the suspect for a simple assault offense. According to the U.S. Capitol Police, the suspect is believed to be a homeless man.
Police later announced 26-year-old Kendrick Hamlin, “AKA Hamlin Khalil Hamlin, of no fixed address,” was arrested and charged in connection to the incident.
At around 7:15 a.m., Craig said she saw the suspect in the lobby area of her apartment building “acting erratic” as if he was under the influence of an unknown substance, according to a police report obtained by The Daily Wire.
The congresswoman told police that after she told the suspect “good morning,” the suspect followed her into the elevator “and began to randomly do push ups.” Craig told police the suspect then, “with a closed fist,” punched her on the chin area of her face, and later grabbed her neck. Police said Craig defended herself by throwing her hot coffee at the suspect.
MPD seeks the public's assistance in identifying a suspect responsible for a Simple Assault that occurred this morning in the 300 block of H Street, NE, involving a member of Congress.
Have info? Call (202) 727-9099/text 50411 pic.twitter.com/ZDYbodVsw7
— DC Police Department (@DCPoliceDept) February 9, 2023
Craig “defended herself from the attacker and suffered bruising, but is otherwise physically okay,” said her chief of staff Nick Coe in a statement. Craig called 911 and the assailant fled the scene, her office said. The statement said Craig thanked the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department for their quick response and noted the congresswoman “asks for privacy at this time.”
Statement by Rep. Angie Craig's Chief of Staff: pic.twitter.com/YHXKJkuK42
— Angie Craig (@RepAngieCraig) February 9, 2023
Hours after the alleged assault, Craig was back at work. She voted with fellow Democrats and Republicans to overwhelmingly pass a resolution to formally rebuke China over a suspected spy balloon that flew over the United States last week.
After losing a congressional bid in 2016, Craig was first elected to represent Minnesota’s Second Congressional District in 2018. Craig is married to her wife, Cheryl Greene, and they have four sons together, according to the congresswoman’s website.
“There is no evidence that the incident was politically motivated,” Craig’s office said.