Police Still Searching For Suspect In State Fair Stabbing
FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. (WCCO) -- Police are still looking for the person who stabbed two men at the Minnesota State Fair last night.
It happened just before 6 p.m. Sunday at one of the busiest intersections of the fair -- Cooper and Dan Patch. That's just a block from the Grandstand.
Police have identified the two victims as 28-year-old Sarasovarn Sourng and 28-year-old Narypeo Chap, both of St. Paul. They are currently at Regions Hospital, where they are expected to fully recover from their injuries.
On Sunday night, police rushed to the scene to help two men who had blood on their legs. Friends Michaela McCann and Marianna Cervantes were walking by.
"At first they were acting like nothing happened and the cop pulled up the man's shirt like they forced him and then the other guy the same thing," McCann said.
Cervantes said they could clearly see someone had been injured.
"He was all bloody and the other guy was all bloody and so was his shoes," she said.
State Fair Police Chief Art Blakey said investigators quickly concluded the victims likely knew their attackers but weren't offering up their names. Blakey said the two victims are "not cooperating."
Blakey gave us a tour of the fair's holding cells. He said last night the cells were full with those who were arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct.
But Blakey says serious crimes are rare. Last year, there were only three felony arrests. Those were for theft and counterfeiting.
The State Fair Police is made up of 225 veteran officers from around the state. Blakey has been chief for 38 years and he has a message to deliver.
"Come to the fair and feel safe because we are here to protect you," Blakey said.
He says there have been more arrests for underage drinking this year. But that is mostly due to young people sneaking in alcohol from outside of the Fairgrounds -- often times in plastic water bottles.
Blakey says his undercover officers have been at venues that do sell wine and beer and he says they are following the law by carding.
