The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is searching for a suspect in a stabbing that occurred late Sunday, July 12, in Rimrock.
Around 10:30 p.m., YCSO deputies were dispatched to the report of a stabbing incident in Rimrock. Deputies contacted the 39-year-old victim who had a small stab wound to his stomach. The victim explained that while driving along Cliffside Trail from E. Valley Lane as the road curves right to join Montezuma Avenue, he saw a white adult female dressed all in black on one side of the street and a white adult male on the opposite side of the street.
The man is described as about 6 feet tall, in his late 30s or early 40s, very thin, with long dirty blond hair that reached to the middle of his back. The man was walking a dog which appeared like a golden retriever or yellow Labrador retriever.
As he continued driving, the two started to scream and wave their arms at him saying he was speeding. The victim did not believe this was the case and decided to stop his vehicle and approach the male suspect to find out “what his problem was.”
Upon contact, the suspect punched the victim in the stomach and although he did not see anything in the suspect’s hand, the victim soon realized he had been stabbed. After the assault, the suspect and his female companion ran away with their dog towards Montezuma Avenue and out of sight.
The victim took off his shirt, put pressure on the wound and drove home. He called 911 and EMS personnel treated him before being transported to Flagstaff Medical Center with a non-life-threatening injury.
Assisting deputies checked the area where the incident occurred and could not locate the suspect. Several people were contacted and one witness indicated they saw two people running through a field off of Cliffside Trail around the time of the assault. The field was searched by deputies and nothing was found. Other neighbors in the area had no knowledge of the assault. Darkness may have prevented the possibility of additional witnesses.
If anyone has information regarding this suspect and/or his female companion who were walking a dog that night, please contact the YCSO at (928) 771-3260. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call Yavapai Silent Witness at 1 (800)-932-3232 and will become eligible for a cash reward if a tip leads to the suspect’s arrest. The case number is 15-026654.