Lawrence police have arrested a 19-year-old Fort Leavenworth soldier, saying he’s a suspect in a Dec. 5 stabbing in downtown Lawrence.

The suspect was arrested Monday evening at the fort and booked into the Douglas County Jail on one count of aggravated battery, said Sgt. Matt Sarna, a police spokesman.

Officers had been investigating the case since early on Dec. 5, when a 20-year-old Kansas City, Kan., man showed up with stab wounds at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Police discovered the victim was involved in a fight that officers had broken up earlier in the 600 block of Massachusetts Street outside Liberty Hall, 644 Mass.

“Several Lawrence police officers and detectives have been dedicated to this case since it occurred and found the suspect in a very timely manner with very few witnesses,” Sarna said. “This included travel to several jurisdictions and execution of search warrants to recover evidence of the crime.”

The stabbing victim was transferred to a Kansas City area hospital and was later released, Sarna said Tuesday.

“Detectives at this time continue to try and determine the circumstances leading up to the incident, and additional arrests are possible,” Sarna said.

He said police are uncertain of the relationship between the suspect and the victim.

Rebecca Steed, a Fort Leavenworth spokeswoman, said the 19-year-old man is a soldier stationed there. She said investigators and law enforcement at Fort Leavenworth have been working with Lawrence police in the investigation.

Steed said that generally when a soldier is suspected of committing a crime in civilian court, military units will wait for a resolution in that case before deciding about pursuing disciplinary measures under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

Douglas County District Attorney Charles Branson said the suspect likely won’t be charged until Wednesday, meaning he would not appear in court until Wednesday afternoon.

The Journal-World generally does not name suspects until they are charged.

Sarna said anyone with information in the case can call police at 785-832-7560 or Douglas County Crime Stoppers at 785-843-TIPS.