Public input sought on Monday’s
Main Street stabbing incident

Santa Paula Police are asking the public’s help in locating the suspect in a Monday morning stabbing near busy Main Street that left the victim with a life-threatening injury.

The incident occurred May 19 at about 11:36 a.m. according to Sgt. Jeremy Watson who noted officers responded to the area of 7th and Main streets for a fight in progress. 

Upon arrival, officers located Frank Anaya, 39, of Santa Paula, “lying in the middle of Main Street,” with a large laceration to his upper right arm. 

Watson said Anaya had been attacked “on the sidewalk and in the street,” suffering a severe wound to the arm that required emergency treatment to stop the bleeding.

Due to the nature of the wound Watson said without emergency treatment, Anaya, “would have lost quite a bit more blood,” in addition to what had already been spilled on the sidewalk and in the street.

Due to the severity of his injury, Anaya was transported to the Trauma Unit at Ventura County Medical Center for further treatment.

His condition is unknown, but Anaya was conscious before being transported.

Watson said a witness who was across the street told police that Anaya and another male subject began challenging a third male subject to a fight: “Anaya and the unidentified suspect engaged in a physical fight at which time the suspect produced an unknown type object and stabbed Anaya in the upper arm,” before the suspect fled on foot eastbound on Main Street. 

The suspect was described as a Hispanic male adult wearing a dark-colored shirt and blue jeans.

Watson said Anaya, who is known to police, “was uncooperative with police at the scene and would not provide any further information... we have very limited information,” on the incident provided by the witness across the street.