From left, Ronald Blesio is being sought for two stabbings on Sunday, June 12, 2011; police also want to speak with his girlfriend, Cathi Larson, and associate, Lawrence Williams. Courtesy photos.
LAKEPORT, Calif. – The investigation into a Sunday morning fight that resulted in the stabbings of two men in Lakeport has widened, with police seeking not only the suspect but an additional man and the suspect's girlfriend.
Ronald James Blesio, 34, of Nice, is being sought on two counts of attempted murder for allegedly stabbing two individuals during a fight at a gas station at 975 S. Main St. shortly before 1:30 a.m. Sunday, as Lake County News reported.
“We definitely believe that he's a public safety risk and we want to get him in custody as soon as possible,” said Lakeport Police Chief Brad Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said his agency also is seeking an associate of Blesio's, 65-year-old Lawrence Eugene Williams, as a person of interest in the case, along with Cathi Larae Larson, 44, who is believed to be Blesio's girlfriend and may have helped him flee the crime scene after he abandoned his vehicle early Sunday.
Regarding the incident that led to the stabbings, Rasmussen said, “It started as a verbal dispute over a parking issue.”
Rasmussen said the two male stab victims are from out of the area and were visiting for a disc golf tournament.
The two men, whose names have not been released, were in a vehicle with some local residents when they arrived at the gas station, Rasmussen said.
The vehicle in which the men were riding ended up parking behind Blesio, who was already at the station, because a gas truck was taking up a lot of room in the parking lot, he explained.
Rasmussen said that, based on the investigation, Blesio allegedly got into a verbal dispute with the men because their vehicle was blocking him in.
That dispute allegedly turned physical. Rasmussen said Blesio is alleged to have slashed the two men, one in the chest, the second on the upper right arm, before he fled.
Lakeport Police said the green Toyota sedan in which Blesio allegedly fled the scene was discovered at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, abandoned in Lakeport.
The Toyota, with the California license plate of 3KKY990, is believed to contain evidence connecting Blesio to the crime. Rasmussen said it was sealed and impounded and is being held pending processing for evidence by the California Department of Justice under the authority of a search warrant.
Police believe that after Blesio abandoned the Toyota he was transported to a residence in the 2500 block of Winter Avenue, just outside of the north Lakeport city limit.
Just after 1:10 a.m. Monday Lakeport Police officers and investigators – assisted by three Lake County Sheriff’s deputies and two California Highway Patrol officers – served a search warrant at the Winter Avenue location in order to search for Blesio, evidence related to the crime and Williams, according to Rasmussen.
Neither Williams nor Blesio were found, but Rasmussen said officers located and impounded a white van during the search warrant service, with that vehicle also being held for evidence processing by the California Department of Justice.
Police also believe that they have the knife used in the assaults, Rasmussen said.
Regarding the two victims, the one who suffered slash wounds to the chest was transported to Sutter Lakeside Hospital and released later on Sunday, police said.
The second victim, who had a laceration to his upper right arm, also was taken to Sutter Lakeside originally before he was airlifted to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, where police said he has undergone surgery and remains hospitalized.
“He's still in stable condition,” said Rasmussen, adding, “He's got another surgery pending.”
Rasmussen said police want to talk to both Williams and Larson, who they believe have been in contact with Blesio since the stabbings occurred.
Police are continuing to follow up on leads as to the possible whereabouts of Blesio, who has several contacts in Lake County and other nearby counties, said Rasmussen. They're also working with other area law enforcement agencies.
“It's really unknown at this point if he's still here or has gone somewhere else,” said Rasmussen.
Rasmussen said Blesio has numerous prior law enforcement contacts, including arrests for assault with a deadly weapon, battery, possession of loaded and concealed firearms, being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as drug charges.
Larson was arrested, along with Blesio, following a May 6 traffic stop. At that time, Sheriff's Narcotics Task Force members allegedly found the couple in possession of 165 marijuana plants, large amounts of processed marijuana and other cultivation-related items, as Lake County News has reported.
She is described as a white female adult, with green eyes and brown hair, 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 120 pounds.
Williams is described as a white male adult, 6 feet, 2 inches tall, 180 pounds, with blond hair and gray eyes. Lakeport Police issued a “be on the lookout” for Williams to Lake County law enforcement and surrounding agencies.
Rasmussen acknowledged the assistance of the Lake County District Attorney’s Office for its investigative assistance provided on Sunday as well as the Lake County Sheriff’s Office
and the CHP for their assistance during the investigation, and offered his thanks for their help.
Anyone with information on the case is urged to Lakeport Police's investigations division at 707-263-5491.
If anyone spots Blesio, Larson or Williams outside of Lakeport, they are urged to contact their local law enforcement agency with as much information about location and appearance as possible, Rasmussen said.
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