Man arrested after viral video shows him wielding knife on light rail train

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A man allegedly seen wielding a knife during a heated exchange on a Charlotte light rail train has been arrested, police said.

The man, 36-year-old Derek Lamont Hutchinson, was seen wearing gloves while holding and pointing a knife at other people on the train during an apparent argument on June 7.

The argument was caught on video and seemingly ended when Hutchinson got off the train.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police said no 911 calls were made and nobody appeared to have been hurt.

Police said they began to investigate after the video went viral on social media. Investigators used that video, along with train surveillance footage, to identify Hutchinson as the suspect.

He was arrested around 10 p.m. on June 11 after an off-duty police officer saw Hutchinson at a light rail station.

Police said a knife was seized during the arrest.

Records showed Hutchinson was taken to the Mecklenburg County jail and was charged with the following offenses:

• Going armed to the terror of the people.
• Carrying a concealed weapon.
• Disorderly conduct.
• Felony possession of a Schedule I controlled substance.
• Possession of marijuana.
• Misdemeanor city violation.

Hutchinson’s total bond was set at $40,000.

The incident that allegedly involved Hutchinson came less than a year after 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska was stabbed to death on a light rail train in Charlotte’s South End neighborhood.

Zarutska’s alleged killer, Decarlos Brown Jr., faces both state and federal charges. Brown was in federal court on June 9, and was found incompetent to stand trial for now but prosecutors expressed hope he would eventually have competency restored.