OAKHURST — A suspect is in custody after a nearly four-hour standoff with law enforcement in the wake of an alleged stabbing in Oakhurst today.
Dillon Westlake, 28, was taken into custody by Madera County Sheriff’s deputies after he was found hiding in the attic of an apartment building on River Park Road, where he is believed to be a resident.
When Westlake refused to respond to deputies’ commands to come out of his hiding place, K9 Gastone was sent in and the suspect suffered bite wounds to his head and arm. The standoff ended at 2:25 p.m. when Westlake was taken into custody.
The incident began to unfold at about 10:34 a.m., when a CHP officer was flagged down by a subject reporting that a man near the Royal Oaks Apartments was bleeding and in need of medical treatment.
CHP located the male, age 24, residence unknown, and found that he was bleeding heavily from a stab wound to the shoulder. Madera County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene, while EMS and Fire provided treatment for the stabbing victim.
According to the victim and a witness, the stabbing had occurred in a second floor apartment of the complex on River Park Road, located south of Oakhurst Community Park.
Westlake is believed to be a resident in the apartment where the alleged crime took place.
Crisis negotiators and SWAT also responded and law enforcement searched the building, one apartment at a time.
Westlake has been arrested on charges of attempted murder, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Other charges may be filed pending the outcome of the investigation.
He is being transported to a Valley hospital for treatment of his injuries and medical clearance before being booked into Madera County Department of Corrections.
The victim was transported by ground ambulance to a Valley hospital.
The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Madera County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 675-7770.
