Police arrest Fort Bragg man after knife attack on girlfriend

A Fort Bragg man was in custody Tuesday, suspected of trying to kill his girlfriend by stabbing her repeatedly, Fort Bragg police said.

Officers arrested Silvestre Rivera Nieto, 26, early Sunday after getting called to a Minnesota Avenue home about 2:15 a.m. for an assault.

They found Nieto unconscious on the ground and the woman bleeding from knife wounds, police said.

The woman told officers she and Nieto had been drinking and were walking to her home when he produced a large knife and began to attack her, knocking her to the ground. She suffered several cuts to her face and hands.

During the attack she was able to stand and ran to her nearby home where her father came to her defense, police said. When Nieto attempted to attack her again, her father threw him to the ground. Nieto was knocked unconscious when his head hit the ground.

Officers arrested Nieto on suspicion of attempted homicide, mayhem, violating a domestic violence restraining order and violating his probation. The man remained in custody while being treated for the head injury, police said.