Man taken to hospital after Atwater stabbing; suspect in custody

A 32-year-old man was flown to a regional hospital Friday in serious condition after he was stabbed at least once near Applebee’s Grill & Bar on Commerce Avenue, Atwater police confirmed.

James Yanez, 31, a man police believe may suffer from mental health issues, has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. A motive for the stabbing was not clear, Lt. Samuel Joseph told the Sun-Star.

“It appears the victim and suspect do know each other,” Joseph said in a telephone interview.

The victim, Seth J. Mielke, was taken to a Modesto hospital in serious condition. An update on his condition was not available late Friday.

Daniel Ledford, 24, who was eating at Applebee’s about 1:45 p.m., said the suspect was threatening to hurt himself with the knife, and the victim was trying to talk him out of it. The suspect then turned on the victim, slashing the man near his neck, Ledford said.

Ledford said the incident appeared to begin down the road near a Dodge Ram 3500 pickup truck. The two men, dressed in cowboy boots, Wranglers and cowboy hats, made their way down the road and circled a parked white Toyota Camry just in front of Applebee’s.

When police arrived, the suspect was waving a “slender buck knife” at police, who ordered him to drop the weapon about six or seven times, said Sgt. Dick Wisdom.

Police drew their weapons and Tasers, and the man tossed the knife away. Police had to order the man to get on the ground six or seven more times before he could be taken into custody, Wisdom said.

Ledford said when officers drew their Tasers and gun, the victim put himself between police and the suspect and said, “Don’t shoot.”

“That’s a good friend right there,” Ledford said.

Police recovered the knife from the scene, Wisdom said.

The victim was taken to a Modesto-area hospital in serious condition, Wisdom said. The wounds did not appear to be life-threatening, he said. The suspect was taken to the Atwater Police Department.

“I don’t need to go out tonight,” Ledford said. “I’ve seen enough action for today.”

This story was originally published April 1, 2016 at 2:53 PM with the headline "Man taken to hospital after Atwater stabbing; suspect in custody."