UKIAH, Calif. – A local man was the victim of an early morning stabbing on Monday, and Mendocino County officials are trying to locate a suspect in the case.

Mendocino County Sheriff's Capt. Kurt Smallcomb said 34-year-old James Blesio of Nice was the victim of the alleged attack.

Smallcomb said that around 1 a.m. Monday Mendocino County Sheriff's deputies were dispatched to Ukiah Valley Medical Center regarding a stabbing victim.

When the deputies arrived at the hospital they contacted Blesio in the emergency room. Smallcomb said medical personnel were attending to a stab wound to the center of Blesio's chest.

Blesio told deputies that he was at the dam area of Lake Mendocino talking with two friends at around midnight on Monday morning when he saw a Hispanic male subject walking near the bathrooms of the dam. Smallcomb said Blesio recounted calling out to the subject, who he thought he knew.

The suspect allegedly approached Blesio and stabbed him in the chest. Smallcomb said Blesio fell to the ground and the Hispanic male left the area. Afterward, Blesio's two friends took him to the Ukiah Valley Medical Center emergency room.

Smallcomb said Blesio became uncooperative during the interview and it is unknown exactly where the crime occurred. Both the north and south side of Lake Mendocino were searched for evidence, but nothing was located.

The suspect was not identified or located, Smallcomb added.

Blesio later was transported to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for further treatment of his injuries, Smallcomb said.

Anyone with any information on the stabbing is requested to contact Deputy Troy Furman of the Mendocino County Sheriff's Office at 707-463-4086.

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