A man was hospitalized after being stabbed during an altercation at Bass Lake on the Fourth of July, and a Coarsegold man was arrested on suspicion of attempted homicide, the Madera County Sheriff’s Office said Sunday.

The stabbing was reported just before 9 p.m. Saturday at the Pine Slope Day Use Area during the Madera County Sheriff’s Office’s Bass Lake holiday enforcement detail.

According to the preliminary investigation, a verbal altercation between a 25-year-old man and a 56-year-old man escalated into a physical confrontation, during which the younger man was violently stabbed.

The victim suffered serious abdominal injuries and was airlifted to a trauma center, where he underwent emergency surgery. Authorities said he is recovering and is in stable condition.

Deputies already assigned to the Bass Lake holiday enforcement detail responded immediately, located the suspect nearby and took him into custody without incident.

The suspect, identified as Juan Carlos Muniz, 56, of Coarsegold, was booked into the Madera County Jail on suspicion of attempted homicide.

Got a Tip?

The investigation remains ongoing.

Anonymous tips may be made through Valley Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867), or by texting “Tip MaderaSO” followed by your message to 888777. Tips may also be made on the Madera County Sheriff’s Mobile App at MaderaSheriffApp.com.

—

Connect with Anthony W. Haddad on social media. Got a tip? Send an email.