SANTA CRUZ — Police booked a 45-year-old man into jail after a weekend fight led to an attempted stabbing downtown, an authority said.
Santa Cruz Police Department officers responded to a reported altercation with weapons shortly after noon on Saturday near Pacific Avenue and Church Street, according to Deputy Chief Jon Bush.
According to witnesses, police determined that a man experiencing homelessness was sitting on the street, playing in a band when a second man, Travis Wheeler allegedly got into an argument with him, Bush said. The musician reportedly pushed Wheeler away and he left the area for a short time. Later, Bush said, Wheeler allegedly returned, approaching the victim from behind with a 3 to 4-inch knife blade.
Bush said Wheeler unsuccessfully tried to stab the victim multiple times while the two wrestled on the ground. The victim reportedly suffered a laceration to his hand.
The two men had known each other for about two years, Bush said.
Wheeler, who also is experiencing homelessness with a last known address in El Dorado, was booked into the Santa Cruz County Jail without bail on suspicion of attempted murder.