LOS ANGELES, CA – A man was critically injured after being stabbed multiple times at an encampment in Hesperia, where authorities arrested a suspect on suspicion of attempted murder and other charges.
The stabbing was reported Wednesday, Sept. 16, in the area of E Avenue and Hercules Street. Deputies responding to the location found a male victim suffering from multiple stab wounds, according to information released by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The victim, identified in subsequent reports as a 52-year-old Hesperia resident, was taken by emergency helicopter to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. He remained in critical condition following the attack.
Suspect arrested near encampment
Investigators identified David Ortiz as a suspect in the stabbing. Authorities said he was located in the area and arrested roughly an hour after the incident.
Ortiz was reportedly found in possession of a knife when deputies located him. He was subsequently booked into the High Desert Detention Center on suspicion of attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and making criminal threats.
The available information does not establish what led to the confrontation. Authorities have not publicly disclosed a motive or said whether the suspect and victim knew each other before the stabbing.
The case remains an allegation at this stage. Ortiz’s arrest and booking do not constitute a conviction, and the charges will proceed through the criminal court system.
Investigation continues in Hesperia
The incident occurred at an encampment occupied by unhoused individuals. Hesperia contracts with the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for municipal law-enforcement services, a relationship that has been in place since 1988. The city’s police services are provided through the department’s Hesperia Patrol Station.
The Hesperia Patrol Station serves the community from its location on Smoketree Street and handles law-enforcement services throughout the city. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the stabbing to contact investigators.
The victim’s condition makes the investigation particularly significant because prosecutors are examining allegations involving attempted murder in addition to the other charges filed against Ortiz. The precise circumstances surrounding the confrontation, including what preceded the stabbing and what happened immediately before deputies arrived, remain part of the investigation.
Anyone with information can contact the Hesperia law-enforcement station at 760-947-1500. Anonymous information can also be provided through We-Tip, according to authorities.
As the case moves forward, additional information about the victim’s condition, the circumstances of the alleged attack and the court proceedings may become available through official records.
