Man stabbed in Durango park; suspect remains at large, police say

Attacker fled in red, newer-model Jeep Cherokee

A man stabbed another man Saturday evening in Schneider Park and fled the scene, according to the Durango Police Department.

Law enforcement across the Four Corners was looking for the suspect Tuesday afternoon, described as a man about 30 years old “wearing nice clothes.” The man escaped in a red, newer-model Jeep Cherokee with a temporary license plate in the window, according to law enforcement.

The victim, who has no permanent address, was taken by ambulance to Mercy Regional Medical Center with serious, non-life-threatening injuries, Durango Police Detective Josh Newman said.

Witnesses were not cooperating with law enforcement as of Tuesday afternoon, Newman said. Durango Police do not know where the temporary plate originated from, he said.

“At this point, I don’t have a whole lot to go on,” Newman said Tuesday. “There are only three reported witnesses, neither wanting to offer information. And that’s it. A lot of unknowns.”

Newman said he believes the stabbing is an isolated incident and does not believe there is a threat to public safety.

The well-dressed man approached a group of four men Saturday evening near the west Ninth Street Bridge in west Durango and started arguing with at least one of the individuals, Newman said. The men, who appeared intoxicated beyond the legal driving limit, and the suspect did not know each other, he said.

The arguing “escalated pretty quickly,” Newman said.

Police say the well-dressed man started fighting with one of the men he approached, and, at one point, stabbed a 25-year-old man in the chest. Newman said witnesses described the weapon as a box knife with a razor blade.

The victim did not give law enforcement an accurate name and declined to identify himself to medical professionals at Mercy Regional Medical Center, Newman said. Law enforcement did not have access to medical records and could not say where exactly the man was stabbed, he said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Newman at 375-4733 or dispatch at 385-2900.

bhauff@durangoherald.com

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the incident occurred on Monday.



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