ROSSMOOR (CNS) – An 18-year-old man suspected of stabbing a woman as she jogged in Rossmoor this week, inflicting several wounds, was behind bars today on suspicion of attempted murder.
James Rivas was arrested about 8 p.m. Thursday as he was leaving his home, said Gail Krause of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. He was being held on $500,000 bail, she said.
Since Tuesday night’s attack in the 3200 block of Bostonian Drive, investigators have been interviewing area residents, Krause said. Those interviews led investigators to Rivas, who fit the suspect’s description and was known to ride a BMX bike and carry knives, Krause said.
Rivas, who lives about three blocks from where the assault happened at 9:11 p.m. Tuesday, ran away from sheriff’s deputies Thursday night, but they quickly took him into custody, Krause said.
Investigators found a knife nearby that will be analyzed at the Orange County Crime Lab, Krause said. Investigators have not determined the motive, she said.
The 28-year-old victim was jogging Tuesday night when the suspect was grabbed from behind and stabbed, said Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.
The woman knocked the knife out of the assailant’s hand after the first stab wound was inflicted, but he managed to knock her down and stab her two more times, Amormino said, noting that the victim was stabbed in the face, arm and hand and hospitalized for a day.
Upon hearing her screaming, a resident of the community rushed outside, and the assailant fled on a BMX bicycle, Amormino said.
“He made no attempt to sexually assault her,” Amormino said, “and he didn’t say one word. She said he looked angry.”
Robbery also appears not to have been a motive, Amormino said.