A combination of a love triangle, domestic violence accusations, alcohol and an ongoing fight led to the arrest of a 37-year-old transient male for investigation of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault with a deadly weapon April 28, according to Longmont police.
Police said they found a 38-year-old Longmont man, who may have been stabbed as many as eight times, when officers located him and the suspect in the northbound lanes of Main Street, just south of Third Avenue, at 6:44 p.m., states a release from Detective Sgt.
Jeffrey Satur.
Police said the man with the knife,
Paul Wettengel, a Longmont-area transient, was arrested on suspicion of the charges, booked and held at Boulder County Jail.
"When the officers arrived, the suspect and victim were still fighting," Satur reported. "The suspect and victim were separated and the suspect was arrested without further incident. The victim was conscious and had been stabbed approximately eight times."
The 38-year-old man was transported to LUH, treated for his injuries and is expected to survive, Satur said.
Satur explained that police now believe the fight originated in the 38-year-old man's apartment at 240 Main Street, No. 11, where he has been living with a woman who was previously the girlfriend of the suspect. Satur said the woman in question made some allegations about domestic violence against her new boyfriend and may have brought her old boyfriend over to the apartment.
"Alcohol was involved," Satur noted.
Police believe the first stabbing occurred inside the apartment, and the suspect may have used a paring knife with a 2- to 3-inch blade. The victim apparently contacted the apartment manager, who was present when the suspect and the resident of the apartment began fighting again in the building's courtyard.
"After this stabbing, the suspect and victim separated and met a third time in the 200 block of Main St.," Satur reported. "It is not known if the victim was stabbed again, but the suspect was still armed with the knife when officers arrived at the scene.
"The investigation is continuing," Satur continued.
Anyone with information on this stabbing is encouraged to contact the Longmont P.D. at 303-651-8555.