Portland police arrested a woman and charged her with aggravated assault after a stabbing in Deering Oaks on Saturday.

The arrest was one of several that took place Saturday and were announced Monday by Portland police.

Police were called to a homeless encampment in the Rose Garden of Deering Oaks just before 8 a.m. Saturday and found a 22-year-old woman who had been stabbed when an argument turned into a physical fight.

Police say the victim, who is homeless, received a laceration on her hand when another member of the group stabbed her with a knife. The victim was treated at the scene.

Samantha Velez, 39, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault. Police say Velez is from Portland and is also homeless.

Earlier Saturday, police arrested a Portland man who they say was driving a stolen car and charged him with assault after he allegedly spit at several officers.

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Police allege that Mohamud Abdullahi, 27, of Portland spit at officers and kicked the door and window of a cruiser as he was being removed from a car he was suspected of stealing in South Portland. Two police officers were treated at Mercy Hospital for exposure to bodily fluids because Abdullahi spit in their eyes, Lt. Robert Martin said.

South Portland police had asked Portland police to help locate a vehicle that had been stolen. Portland officers spotted the vehicle being driven on Franklin Street just before 5 a.m. Saturday and followed it to 180 Pear St., where it was stopped, Martin said. The occupants of the car were detained and the driver was placed in handcuffs.

Abdullahi was charged with four counts of assault and violating conditions of release. He faces additional charges from South Portland police.

A passenger in the vehicle was was awaiting COVID-19 test results, Martin said. She was not charged and was released from the scene.

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