CLEARLAKE, Calif. – A Clearlake man was arrested Tuesday morning for allegedly stabbing his ex-girlfriend and a man in a homeless encampment.

Anthony Kropaczewski, 42, was arrested in the case, according to a report from Det. Ryan Peterson of the Clearlake Police Department.

Peterson reported that Clearlake Police officers on Tuesday responded to the area of Ray’s Food Place on the report of a male and female in a verbal fight. Witnesses reported that the female appeared to have blood on her face.  

Once officers arrived they located a female, identified as 29-year-old Rachel Patterson of Clearlake, who advised officers that she had been stabbed in the stomach in the homeless encampment behind Ray’s Food Place. Patterson identified the person who stabbed her as Kropaczewski, her ex-boyfriend, Peterson reported.

Lake County Fire medical personnel arrived and transported Patterson to St. Helena Hospital Clearlake for medical treatment. She subsequently was flown via REACH air ambulance to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital due to the injuries, according to Peterson's report. Patterson later was released from Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital after she was medically treated.  

During the investigation, Peterson said police officers were advised by a bystander that a second possible stabbing victim was located in the same homeless encampment where Patterson had been assaulted.

Officers responded and located 31-year-old Clearlake resident Brian Fitzke. Peterson said Lake County Fire medical personnel responded to attend to Fitzke’s injuries, which were determined not to be life threatening and he was not transported to a medical facility.  

Fitzke also identified Kropaczewski as the person who had stabbed him, Peterson said.

Kropaczewski was located and detained at his residence. After in-field lineups were conducted and statements from witnesses were obtained, Kropaczewski was placed under arrest for violations including criminal threats, domestic violence, assault with a deadly weapon and possession of a concealed dagger, according to Peterson.

With Kropaczewski’s assistance, the knife used in this incident was located and booked into evidence at the Clearlake Police Department, Peterson said.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident is requested to contact Peterson at the Clearlake Police Department, 707-994-8251.