Woman speaks out following attack

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - An Indianapolis woman says she is afraid to travel alone after being attacked in the heart of downtown Indianapolis Saturday afternoon.

24-Hour News 8 first told the story about officer Mark Barnett,  who was punched in the face when trying to arrest the suspect .

Kimberly Barnes, who works at restaurant downtown, says she was heading home after completing her shift. 

Barnes, who depends on IndyGo public transportation, said she was crossing the street near Delaware and Washington streets when the attack happened.

It caught her off guard.

“Next thing I know, I’m down on ground with blood just gushing out and  I am screaming for help,” Barnes said, hours after being treated at Wishard Memorial  Hospital. “I have over 20 stitches in my eye. They had to sew five layers together and my nose is fractured.”

Officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department received two separate calls of an assault downtown shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday.

The other female victim, and a stranger who stopped to help, gave police a detailed description of the suspect.

Investigators say, Officer Mark Barnett  approached the suspect near Meridian and Georgia streets. Police say   the suspect “sucker punched” Barnett in the face moments after he approached him.

An officer deployed a stun gun in an attempt  apprehend the suspect. But that first attempt failed. 

Meanwhile, Nathaniel Sconiers Jr.  didn’t deny the allegations against him. Sconiers told 24-Hour News 8 he did it because “he chose to.”