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A caller told police that her husband had been stabbed in the backyard of a residence in the 600 block of Atlantic Street at 8:26 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 23, the Bethlehem Police Department said.
Officers found the man with four stab wounds to his upper back and neck, according to police. He was taken to an area hospital. The injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.
The man identified his neighbor, Jean Carlos Rodriguez-Ortiz, 33, as the person who stabbed him, police said.
Rodriguez-Ortiz appeared to be intoxicated at the time and had made rude comments toward a guest of the victim, according to police. A short time later, Rodriguez-Ortiz called out to the victim to apologize, then stabbed him multiple times when he approached.
Video footage of the assault from a residential camera confirmed the victim's statements, police said.
Rodriguez-Ortiz fled the area before officers arrived and is still on the loose, according to police.
Police obtained an arrest warrant for him, charging him with:
- Felony Aggravated Assault
- Misdemeanor Simple Assault (two counts).
Court dates and bail information weren't listed on the court documents at this time.
Rodriguez-Ortiz has an extensive criminal history, including:
- a Simple Assault charge from June 2022.
- Manufacture, Delivery, or Possession With Intent to Manufacture or Deliver charges in September 2011 and November 2013.
- Resisting Arrest and Disorderly Conduct charges in November 2009.
- Escape charges in July 2011.
DUI charges in May 2014 and April 2024.
Anyone with information on Rodriguez-Ortiz’s location is asked to contact Bethlehem Police at 610-865-7000 or BethlehemPolice@bethlehem-pa.gov. Anonymous information can also be provided on the department's Tip Line at 610-691-6660.
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