Man suspected of stabbing sleeping homeless man arrested after allegedly stealing car

A 33-year-old Imperial Beach man who was arrested on suspicion of stabbing a sleeping homeless man at a Chula Vista trolley station early Saturday was detained after he allegedly stole a car later in the day, police said.

Police said the 33-year-old man was arrested about 13 hours after the victim was discovered on the ground, covered in blood, near the Palomar trolley station on Industrial Boulevard. The 35-year-old man was sleeping when he was attacked in what police believe was an unprovoked assault.

The man, who had been repeatedly stabbed, was conscious and able to speak with officers. He was transported to a hospital for treatment. His wounds were not believed to be life threatening, police said.

Police, working with San Diego Metropolitan Transit System officials, reviewed security footage and identified an Imperial Beach man as a suspect in the stabbing.

Shortly before 3:45 p.m., a resident called 911 to report seeing his vehicle stolen from Moss Street near Fifth Avenue. It had been parked with its engine on when it was taken, said Lt. Scott Adkins.

The vehicle’s owner began following the stolen vehicle and called into police. Patrol officers stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver, who an officer recognized as the person sought in the stabbing.

Anyone with information about the incident was asked to call the Chula Vista Police Department at (619) 691-5151, Crime Stoppers anonymously at (888) 580-8477 or P3tips at http://p3tips.com/409.