Suspect arrested for stabbing ex-girlfriend’s father in El Centro

CBS 13's on your side Vanessa Gongora spoke with the family affected.

EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - An El Centro man is behind bars tonight accused of stabbing his ex-girlfriend's father.

On Tuesday afternoon, El Centro Police Department (ECPD) responded to the stabbing right behind Strikezone bowling alley on the railroad tracks.

I spoke with the step-son of the victim, Michael Cox, who was present at the scene. He said he's glad the suspect was caught.

According to Cox, the 21-year-old suspect confronted her father because he was upset he wouldn't be able to see his ex-girlfriend again, due to alleged drug problems.

The 41-year-old victim was stabbed in his lower stomach.

He was taken to El Centro Regional Medical Center and was later flown to a hospital in Indio for surgery.

The victim and his family are currently homeless.

They say living in the streets for several years makes them less safe.

"The way I think of it is this is my house so sometimes I end up saying something, so with that, a lot of people end up feeling some type of way about it and they'll want to do something you know, whether it's fighting or pulling out a knife or even just arguments," Cox said.

 Sgt. James Thompson with El Centro Police Department says they found the suspect at his home less than 30 minutes after the attack.

"We went into the backyard. It appeared as if he was going to run or fight with officers. We did have our police canine on scene and he was given several orders to surrender and because of the canine being present he did surrender without incident," Thompson said.

Police booked the suspect on charges of assault with a deadly weapon as well as possession of meth and heroin. .

He has yet to be formally charged.