Homeless man stabbed in downtown Santa Rosa

A homeless man was taken to the hospital Saturday night after he was stabbed in downtown Santa Rosa near Old Courthouse Square.

The victim, whose name was not released, told police he was stabbed during a confrontation with two men he did not know near the intersection of Santa Rosa Avenue and Third Street, according to the Santa Rosa Police Department.

The stabbing did not happen inside the city’s newly reunified square, but it was “very close,” said Sgt. Justin Farrington.

The victim walked to a Catholic Charities office, where an employee called police around 11:40 p.m. to report the stabbing. The man was located nearby and taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where he underwent surgery for treatment of non-life threatening injuries, according to Farrington.

The attack triggered a nearly hour-long search downtown by police and the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office helicopter Henry 1, which was already in the area, Farrington said.

The victim’s attackers, who police described as two men in their early 20s, were still at large Sunday. Police were also hoping to track down the victim, who left the hospital before an officer could speak with him again, Farrington said.