Area man critically injured when stabbed while sitting in vehicle
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Police Department
Published: April 23, 2008
A Santa Paula man was critically injured when he was stabbed in the throat Friday evening as he sat in a vehicle.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
A Santa Paula man was critically injured when he was stabbed in the throat Friday evening as he sat in a vehicle. His alleged attacker remains in jail facing charges of attempted murder, according to a Santa Paula Police Department spokesman.
Sergeant Jimmy Fogata said that law enforcement responded to the Santa Paula Hospital’s Emergency Room where the male 36-year-old stabbing victim was reported at about 9:30 p.m. on April 18. “Upon arrival it was found that the victim had been stabbed twice in the throat,” narrowly missing the carotid artery, noted Fogata.
“Subsequent investigation, assisted by the SPPD Detectives Unit, determined the suspect to be 25-year-old Cliff Rodriguez of Santa Paula.” Rodriguez was traced to his mother’s residence in the 900 block of East Harvard Boulevard.
“After a short standoff with officers, the suspect surrendered and was taken into custody” and transported to the SPPD Station for booking. Rodriguez was later transported to Ventura County Jail, where Fogata said he was booked on charges of attempted murder.
The unidentified victim, also a resident of Santa Paula, is currently listed in critical but stable condition at an area hospital. “His name is not being released at this time due to the ongoing investigation,” said Fogata.
Sergeant Ish Cordero said the victim was sitting in a vehicle at the time he was stabbed. “At this point we haven’t been able to put a motive to it, other than the victim and the victim’s friends went to the location to retrieve stolen property from the apartment that Rodriguez was in.”
After the stabbing Rodriguez “somehow was transported to his mother’s house, and when we went there to conduct the investigation, to make sure he was okay and check his well-being and get his statement, he didn’t want to cooperate and come out.” Cordero said that Rodriguez’s mother convinced him to “come out and talk to us... after further investigation, he was placed under arrest for attempted homicide.”
The unidentified victim does not belong to a gang, but the “suspect is a gang member,” Cordero noted.
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