San Jose Man Found Hiding In Closet After Alleged Wife Stabbing
SAN JOSE (BCN) - San Jose police Wednesday found a man who allegedly stabbed his wife Saturday afternoon hiding inside a closet at his home and arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder.
Officers arrested Tewolde Welejeworgs Haileslassie, 41, shortly before noon at his home in the 700 block of Piercy Road, where on Sunday afternoon he allegedly stabbed his wife, police said.
Officers on that day responded to a report of a 30-year-old woman who arrived on her neighbor's doorstep bleeding from stab wounds, police said.
The woman was apparently stabbed, and then bound and continuously assaulted by Haileslassie, police said.
She was taken to a hospital with injuries that were severe but not believed to be life threatening.
Investigators and patrol officers suspected that Haileslassie had returned to his house after the incident. Wednesday, officers spotted his Toyota Sienna sports van parked near his house and asked the victim for permission to search for him inside the house, police said.
They found Haileslassie hiding inside a closet under a large pile of clothing, police said. He had a self-inflicted laceration to his throat and police think he might have tried to kill himself.
Police said he was "conscious and alert," but was given first aid and then taken to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, where he is believed to be in stable condition.
He was not armed and did not resist arrest, police said. Officers found the knife that he had used to wound his throat at the home.
Police initially thought Haileslassie had barricaded himself and the couple's three children inside the home, but after surrounding the home for nearly two hours Saturday, they determined he was not home, and the children were safe elsewhere with the woman's mother.
Haileslassie apparently fled and police had reason to believe he planned to flee the area and possibly the country.
Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact San Jose police Detective Angel Fontanilla or Detective Sgt. Jason Herr at (408) 277-3700.
People wishing to remain anonymous can call the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at (408) 947-STOP or visit www.svcrimestoppers.org.
