Neighbor stabbed outside Lakeport church

A stabbing outside a Lakeport church that serves as a warming center for homeless people has led to one arrest, a Lake County sheriff’s spokesman said Wednesday.

Terry Alan Rucks, 64, of Lower Lake is accused of attacking a neighbor of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on Hill Road East during a confrontation about trespassing Monday night, sheriff’s Lt. Steve Brooks said.

Rucks and two other men apparently were waiting for the church to open at about 6 p.m. when the neighbor yelled at them to get off his property, Brooks said.

The victim, who was not named, told deputies he had been having problems with homeless people since the shelter opened, the lieutenant said.

He was walking away when he said Rucks followed him in his vehicle, got out and approached him on foot, Brooks said.

The man was stabbed in the chest when he attempted to grab Rucks by the shoulder to turn him around, according to Brooks.

Rucks said he acted in self-defense when the neighbor kicked the side of his car and punched him, Brooks said.

The victim was taken to Sutter Lakeside Hospital and later flown out of the county for additional medical care.

Rucks was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Lake County jail on Hill Road.

You can reach Staff Writer Paul Payne at 568-5312 or paul.payne@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ppayne.