Fight between friends apparently led to stabbing in Clearlake

A 17-year-old Clearlake boy was in critical but stable condition Monday after being stabbed multiple times by a friend late Friday night, Clearlake Police said.

Police did not release the name of the victim, who was stabbed in the chest and back.

They have arrested Joseph Dingess, 19, on suspicion of attempted murder, said Chief Allan McClain. The victim and the suspect were friends, he said.

Police became aware of the stabbing after the suspect and his brother, Ryan Dingess, flagged down a police officer near Redbud Park at 10:17 p.m., McClain said.

They were driving the wounded boy to the hospital, he said. The boy subsequently was airlifted to UC Davis Medical Center, McClain said.

The brothers first told police the teen had been stabbed by three strangers. But it was later determined that Joseph Dingess stabbed him during a fight at the boy’s Lakeshore Drive apartment, he said.

“At this point, I don’t know what led to the fight. The victim is being uncooperative,” McClain said.

The teen is expected to survive his injuries, he said.

The boy was the third person stabbed during a fight in Clearlake last week.

On Wednesday, two men, Wesley and Samuel Auten, 21 and 26, were stabbed in the back during a fight on Oak Avenue, police said.

Suspect Alejandro Mondragon, 31, of Clearlake, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

The investigations into both cases are continuing, police said.