Man escapes car stabbing

CARPINTERIA — Carpinteria resident Manual Lopez, 31, is being sought in connection with a stabbing assault just after midnight Thursday.

Santa Barbara County sheriff’s deputies responded to a 911 call from a Carpinteria residence around 12:30 a.m. Dec. 16, finding a 31-year-old stabbing victim who reportedly had just escaped from a trio of knife-wielding assailants. The victim was riding as a passenger in a vehicle driven by Daniel Esquivel, 23, and occupied by Bryan Duran, 19, and Lopez when he was allegedly attacked by the other three men.

“He was apparently punched and stabbed by them,” said sheriff’s spokesman Drew Sugars, “but was lucky enough to get away.”

The victim was transported by ambulance to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Esquivel and Duran were booked into Santa Barbara County Jail on a charge of attempted murder with bail set at $1,000,000 each.

Lopez remains at large and is the subject of an area manhunt.

“He has multiple facial tattoos and a large tattoo on his neck,” Sugars said.

The public is warned from any attempted contact with Lopez, but are urged to call 911 or the sheriff’s anonymous tip line at (805) 681-4171 with any information as to his whereabouts.