Fight over sleeping spot leads to man's stabbing

A 26-year-old man is in stable condition after being stabbed in the chest Thursday night during a fight over a sleeping spot on the library steps.

Chattanooga police arrested 42-year-old Maurice A. Moore on two counts of aggravated assault and one count of reckless endangerment, said police spokeswoman Sgt. Jerri Weary.

The incident began with an argument about 7:30 p.m. over a sleeping spot near the downtown branch of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Bicentennial Library located at 1001 Broad St.

Moore was arguing with another man, Jason Belcher, over a sleeping area near the library steps. Belcher told Moore he couldn't sleep there.

photo Maurice Moore

According to witness accounts, Moore pulled a can of mace and a knife. He began to spray near Belcher, but also sprayed near the stroller of David Hartman's four-month-old daughter.

Hartman stepped in to protect the child when he was reportedly stabbed by Moore, according to police.

Hartman sustained a one-inch stab wound to his chest into his left lung area just below his heart, according to police reports.

Officers located Moore under the steps of City Hall. He was identified by witnesses on the scene and taken into custody.

As of Friday afternoon, Moore remained in jail on a $110,000 bond.

For complete details, see tomorrow's Times Free Press.

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