At about 8:03pm Friday, Turlock Police responded to a weapon offense in progress at Donnelly Park in the 600 block of Pedras Road.

Several callers reported two men were fighting, one of which was trying to stab the other with a knife.

When officers arrived on scene, they located a victim on the ground who wasn’t being very responsive and had a large laceration to the left side of his chest.

Turlock Fire and American Medical Response arrived on scene shortly later, transporting the victim to a local hospital with a firefighter accompanying for extra manpower.

Witnesses pointed out the suspect, later identified as Elpidio Garcia, 61, of Turlock, who was fleeing the scene on his bicycle. Officers stopped Garcia in the 1600 block of Donnelly Park Drive and detained him without incident.

The investigation revealed that the victim was standing by the eastern restrooms when Garcia walked up to him and punched him several times, before stabbing him with a knife which was later recovered.

Garcia was arrested and booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center on the charge of attempted murder.

“The victim is expected to make a full recovery,” said Turlock Police spokeswoman Dominique Sanchez.

The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist is encouraged to call Officer Lawrence at 209-668-1200.