NEWS RELEASE

THREE ARRESTED FOLLOWING STABBING IN DOWNTOWN SEASIDE

Monday evening at approximately 5:00 p.m. Seaside Police responded to a reported stabbing at 1^st and Holladay. When officers arrived, they found Nathan Swearengin, age 22 of Seaside suffering from a stab wound to his chest. While EMS personnel from the Seaside Volunteer Fire Department treated the victim, officers were able to obtain a vehicle description and partial description of the suspects.

Detective Sergeant Steve Barnett who was returning from Portland on HWY 26 was contacted and asked to respond to the scene. He was given the vehicle and suspect description in case he observed the suspect vehicle as he came back into town. A few minutes later, Detective Barnett did spot the suspect vehicle eastbound and notified the dispatch center. The Detective Sergeant followed the vehicle until additional police assistance arrived. At mile marker 42 on HWY 26, an Oregon State Trooper with assistance from the Chief of North Plains and a Deputy from Washington County stopped the vehicle and took the four occupants into custody. They were then transported back to Seaside and the vehicle was impounded. Clothing believed to have been worn by the suspects was later found dumped along the roadway on HWY 26 just east of town.

Juan I. Ruvalcaba, age 20 of Tigard is charged with Assault in the 1^st Degree, Attempted Murder, Menacing, Disorderly Conduct, and Possession of a Controlled Substance. Jesus R. Sotelo age 23 of Cornelius is charged with Assault in the 1^st Degree, Attempted Murder, Menacing, Hindering Prosecution, Disorderly Conduct, and Possession of Controlled Substance less than an ounce. Both Ruvalcaba and Sotelo are being held at the Clatsop County Jail. A seventeen year old female from Cornelius who was the driver of the vehicle was charged with Hindering Prosecution and Possession of a Controlled Substance less than an ounce. She is currently being held at the Oregon Youth Authority. Zulema E. Arredondo, age 19 of Tigard was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance less than an ounce and released following questioning. The case will be forwarded to the Clatsop County District Attorney’s Office for review and formal charges.

The victim underwent surgery Monday evening at Columbia Memorial Hospital in Astoria and is expected to recover from his wounds. This investigation is ongoing and no motive for the attack has been established. The actual stabbing took place at the corner of Broadway and Holladay and anyone who may have seen what happened and has not been contacted by police is asked to call the Seaside Police Department.

Robert Gross

Chief of Police

Seaside Police Department