Two arrested Friday after physical confrontation at library

Published 3:02 pm Monday, July 27, 2026

QUINCY — A man and a woman were arrested on battery charges Friday following an incident earlier in the week at the Quincy Public Library.

Officers with the Quincy Police Department were dispatched to the library around 11:30 a.m. on July 21 after reports that two people, identified as Josiah L. Ryan, 23, and Leslie Jo Bowen, 20, both homeless, allegedly got into a physical altercation with library staff.

According to the staff, an attempt had been made to speak with the couple about cleaning up trash accumulating outside their vehicle. When staff members began walking away to contact law enforcement, Ryan reportedly shoved a male staff member to the ground and punched him.

When a female staff member attempted to intervene, Bowen is alleged to have grabbed her and pulled her back. Bowen and Ryan reportedly fled from the library’s parking lot before law enforcement could arrive.

QPD officers located Ryan and Bowen Friday, sleeping in their vehicle near Seventh and York streets. Ryan reportedly failed to follow officers’ commands and pulled away while officers were attempting to handcuff him. Once in custody, Ryan allegedly kicked an officer while being placed in the back of a squad car.

Bowen was arrested and processed by staff at the Adams County Jail on a charge of aggravated battery in a public place before being released on a notice to appear for a future court hearing.

Ryan was lodged in the Adams County Jail on charges of aggravated battery in a public place, aggravated battery to a peace officer, and resisting a peace officer.

At a detention hearing Monday afternoon, Judge Joshua Jones ordered GPS monitoring for Ryan as a condition of pretrial release. A hearing date of July 31 was set to allow Ryan to hire a private attorney.