A 28-year-old Chehalis man is in custody after allegedly stabbing a male in the back in Centralia on Thursday, according to the Centralia Police Department.
Leonardo Mendoza was booked into jail after the alleged stabbing, which occurred at about 11:30 a.m. Thursday in the back parking lot of Rite Aid off of Harrison Avenue, according to police.
Police were initially called to a report of two transients fighting.
“Upon the arrival of the officers, one male was observed walking away from the scene and the other was found at the location of the dispute,” police stated in a news release. “The male that remained at the scene was bleeding heavily from his back. Centralia officers and responding aid crews from the Riverside Fire Authority and AMR took quick action to stop the bleeding and the victim was quickly transported from the scene.”
The victim was later flown via Life Flight to a trauma hospital in Tacoma where he is currently receiving medical care, police stated.
Mendoza was arrested and booked into jail for first-degree assault.
“No further information will be released at this time,” the police department stated. “Anyone with information related to this case (is) encouraged to contact the Centralia Police Department.”
