Three Clearlake men arrested, suspected of assault, stabbing

Clearlake police called to a red-tagged residence following a report of people at the off-limits property found a man on the ground with stab wounds across the back of his body, police said.

Bret Gilliam, 27, of Clearlake had been stabbed three times across his back, police said in a release. He was taken to nearby Austin Park by ambulance, picked up by a medical helicopter and flown to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. Gilliam initially was listed in stable condition, according to police.

An investigation determined three men had gone to the Robinson Avenue property late Saturday afternoon to confront Gilliam. He was knocked to the ground, kicked and stabbed with a knife, according to police, who identified Jacob Steffen, 20, as the suspect who wielded the weapon.

Officers found Steffen, his brother Giovanni Steffen, 22, and Jayson Alvarez, 18, all of Clearlake at another residence in town. Late Saturday they were arrested on suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Lake County Jail. Bail was set at $25,000. All three were released after posting a bail bond.

Police said an ongoing dispute regarding property fueled the violence.

A Memorial Hospital spokeswoman Tuesday said the man no longer was being treated at that hospital.