Arrest in Occupy Austin knife incident

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Police said a 23-year-old man was arrested amidst protesters in the Occupy Austin movement Saturday evening. Protestors say the man painted his face like the Joker from Batman.

According to police, Billy Joe Lewis-Kubisiak pulled a Bowie knife out and made threatening gestures at the Occupy Austin camp in front of City Hall around 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

Police said no one was hurt in the incident, which witnesses said took place after a verbal altercation over food distribution. Police also said the man was intoxicated and not a member of the Occupy Austin group.

Austin police said there has been a recent influx of the transient population at the encampment but Saturday’s incident was not caused by protesters.

The arrest affidavit, however, did not confirm that this was a verbal altercation over food, only that Kubisiak got into an altercation with another man while walking up the stairs at City Hall.  The affidavit also did not describe Kubisiak as transient or intoxicated.

Police said Kubisiak's girlfriend was questioned and she led police to the knife that was hidden in her backpack.

Kubisiak is being held on $20,000 bond and is facing a felony aggravated assault with a deadly weapon charge.

Despite the arrest, occupiers said their message remains strong.

"This is just a road bump," said Tiffany, a protestor who declined to give her last name.

I think thanks to social media, for example, the message across the country and in Austin itself has only gotten stronger," said Trevor Hoag.

Some occupiers described Kubisiak as a 'bad apple' -- something found in any large group.