LAYTON, Utah, Jan. 2, 2019 (Gephardt Daily) — Police in Layton are investigating a stabbing which took place in Layton on New Year’s Day.
Suspect Michael Ray Mendoza, 32, is facing a charge of second-degree felony attempted murder with injury, according to a probable cause statement from Farmington’s 2nd District Court.
At approximately 5:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Layton City Police received a report of a hit-and-run car accident in the area of 90 N. Main St. A vehicle police believed was involved was located a short distance away, crashed and abandoned in a parking lot near Gentile Street and Main Street, the probable cause statement said.
Fifteen minutes later, Layton City Police received a report of a male stabbing victim at the Davis Hospital emergency room. It was reported the stabbing victim drove himself to the hospital. The victim was then flown by AirMed to the University of Utah Hospital in critical but stable condition.
While patrol officers were responding to the Davis Hospital emergency room, officers located an intoxicated male walking near where the abandoned suspect vehicle was found. That man was later identified as Michael Ray Mendoza, who had the same address as the registered owner of the suspect vehicle.
“A search by patrol officers of Mendoza’s person yielded a bloody knife,” the probable cause statement said. “Mendoza had a large amount of blood on his arm that did not appear to be from him. Inside of Mendoza’s pants’ pockets was also blood.”
Mendoza was transported to the Davis Hospital to be treated for injuries he sustained from the car accident.
Upon first contact with officers, Mendoza told them he had been in a fight and someone had stolen his car. Through further investigation, it was learned that Mendoza was hanging out with two couples earlier in the evening at one of the couples’ residence in Layton, celebrating New Year’s Eve.
Officers learned that earlier in the evening, Mendoza threatened one of the women with a “blade” for “being disrespectful.” At some point in the evening, Mendoza also had an argument with one of the men. There was evidence of blood found outside the residence at which the couples and Mendoza had been hanging out, the probable cause statement said.
Officers spoke with the woman who had the alleged altercation with Mendoza, who said she left around midnight due to Mendoza yelling at her that she disrespected him and he would show her his “blade.” She stated she was afraid so she called a friend to come get her, and awoke later in the early morning to phone calls stating her husband, the victim, had been stabbed.
Police spoke to an additional female witness who said she was at the residence for about two hours from 2 a.m. on New Year’s Day. That witness said that when she was there, she could hear Mendoza yelling at the victim and “that it didn’t sound like a friendly conversation.”
The arresting officer went to the U of U Hospital to speak with the man that had been stabbed. He had suffered a stab wound to his chest and his left rib cage, and there were “visible superficial cuts under this chin on his neck.”
The arresting officer asked the victim who had stabbed him and he responded that it was Mendoza. He said that he and Mendoza were arguing “about something but didn’t remember what the argument was about.”
He said the two walked towards a Maverik and the victim called out to Mendoza “it’s gunna be like that bro,” and Mendoza turned towards him, produced a silver bladed knife, and stabbed him. The victim said that at some point, he was able to get away, go
to his car, and drive to the hospital.
Mendoza agreed to speak with investigators after being read his Miranda rights.
He said he showed the victim his new knife, but didn’t remember threatening the woman with it. He also said there was never any arguing between anyone. He said he didn’t remember anything after 2 a.m. and didn’t remember the conversation he initially had with officers about being in a fight and someone stealing his car.
The suspect was charged with attempted murder because “there was a substantial risk of the victim’s death with the targeted stab wounds he sustained to the chest to include the laceration to his liver and puncture to his lungs. At the time of this writing, the victim is alive in critical but stable condition.”
Mendoza was booked into Davis County Jail with his bail set at $25,000.
