Investigation leads to arrest of stabbing suspect

COSTA MESA — The November stabbing of an Irvine man and its resulting investigation led to the Tuesday afternoon arrest of a suspect.

Patrick Medelez, 20, of Costa Mesa was taken into custody around 4 p.m. after becoming a “person of interest” in the case, and faces a charge of attempted murder, said police.

Police responded to reports of a stabbing on Nov. 22 at approximately 1 a.m. and arrived to find a 28-year-old victim that had been stabbed several times.

The victim and suspect had been guests at a mutual friend’s home when they got into an altercation that ended outside with the stabbing.

Police became interested in Medelez as their investigation progressed and their efforts to locate him led to their finding a vehicle linked to him. Plainclothes officers watched Medelez leave in the vehicle and followed him into Newport Beach, where he was stopped on Pacific Coast Highway and arrested.

Bail was set at $500,000.

The victim is reportedly out of the hospital and recovering. Police ask that anyone with any information regarding the incident to contact Costa Mesa Det. Mike Cohen at (714) 754-5205.