Naked Man Wearing One Sock Arrested After Violent Stabbing Ends at Pasadena Gas Station

A naked 36-year-old Los Angeles man wearing only one sock was arrested early Thursday after a violent domestic stabbing that ended at a Mobil gas station on North Fair Oaks Avenue, according to Pasadena Police Lt. Sam De-Sylva.

Officers responded at 4:28 a.m. June 11 to the station at 400 North Fair Oaks Avenue after receiving reports that a man was attempting to force a woman into a vehicle, De-Sylva said. When officers arrived, they found a 44-year-old Compton woman who appeared “physically fearful” and a male suspect standing nearby who appeared to be under the influence of a controlled substance.

Officers used de-escalation techniques and took him into custody without further incident.

The victim told officers she and her boyfriend had been sleeping in their van in an unknown city, “possibly within Los Angeles,” when he suddenly attacked her, De-Sylva said.

She reported that he uses crystal methamphetamine daily and had been acting irrationally that morning. She said she awoke to him stabbing her in the chest with a folding knife with an approximately 3½-inch blade while yelling that he was going to kill her, according to DeSylva.

The knife reportedly was later recovered.

The woman suffered two chest lacerations, measuring about two inches and three inches, according to De-Sylva.

She told police she managed to break away and began driving in search of a well-lit, populated area. While she drove, the suspect continued to strike her with his fists, threaten to kill her, and at one point attempted to strangle her with a sheet. She said she was forced to stop on the freeway during the assault, DeSylva said.

She eventually exited the freeway and pulled into the Mobil station on North Fair Oaks Avenue. The gas station doors were locked, and she yelled to the attendant to call police, telling him the suspect had placed a knife to her throat, De-Sylva said.

The suspect then got out of the van, demanded she return to the vehicle, and when she refused, he took off his clothes.

Officers arrived at that time and arrested him. Paramedics treated the victim at the scene and released her. The suspect was booked into the Pasadena jail. His name has not been released. He faces attempted homicide charges.

De-Sylva said the stabbing did not occur in Pasadena, but the incident concluded there when the victim sought help.

Anyone with information about the case is urged to call the Pasadena Police Department at (626) 744-4241 or provide anonymous tips to Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477), through the P3 Tips mobile app, or at lacrimestoppers.org.