Following a violent altercation that resulted in a stabbing at a Santa Rosa apartment complex, a 27-year-old man has been arrested. The incident occurred on Tuesday and led to a dramatic foot chase through the city streets, as reported by the Santa Rosa Police Department.
The Santa Rosa Police officers rushed to the scene shortly after 5:25 PM, where they found a 26-year-old male victim suffering from a stab wound to his torso. He was quickly transported to a local hospital and remains in critical condition. The suspect, Robert Mendoza, was recognized by witnesses as a resident of the same complex and fled before officers arrived. Notably, he also had an outstanding felony warrant unrelated to the stabbing incident.
Mendoza's escape stopped when an officer and his K9 partner, Rocco, located him attempting to hide in the bed of a parked pickup truck downtown. Despite warnings of being bitten, Mendoza continued to run until Rocco apprehended him. The suspect was treated for lacerations incurred during the apprehension before being booked into the Sonoma County Jail. The charges include attempted murder and the prior unrelated felony warrant.
The search for the weapon, believed to be a knife, was unsuccessful during the initial investigation. Santa Rosa's Violent Crimes Investigation Team has taken charge, and they, along with Field and Evidence Technicians, are working to unearth additional information about the argument and motive behind the stabbing.
