Photo: Rafael Vargas
A 1AM welfare check phone call to Coalinga Police on January 17th was triggered when the uncle of the possible victim received information his niece may have been assaulted. When officers arrived at the reported home on the 500 block of East Valley Street, they encountered a visibly upset adult woman standing outside accompanied by her grandmother.
The victim reported pain on the back of her head. Bleeding profusely due to several lacerations to that area, an ambulance was immediately called. The lacerations were allegedly caused by 20- year old Coalinga resident Rafael Vargas. He is the father of the victim’s child. The victim and Vargas had an argument which escalated to Vargas stabbing the victim with a steak knife.
Vargas used such force that the tip of the knife broke off and the blade separated from the handle.
Vargas ran from the scene and has still not been located. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Coalinga Police Department at 559-935-1525. Vargas is a known gang member and considered armed and dangerous.
Photo from the Coalinga Police Department
