Police arrest suspect in connection with Maricopa Meadows triple stabbing

May 13, 2008

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Maricopa Police have arrested a 21-year-old man on charges of aggravated assault in connection with a triple stabbing that took place at 3 a.m. Monday in Maricopa Meadows.

Perry Patterson, who was staying with a family who lives in the 45000 block of West Dutchman Road, is accused of stabbing three teens between the ages of 13 and 17. He was booked into Pinal County jail shortly after the incident.

Two of the victims, whose names have not been released, were taken to Maricopa County Hospital by helicopter. A third teen was taken to the same hospital by ambulance (see “Police downplay violence on Maricopa streets“).

“I believe they are stable, or out of ICU,” Lieutenant Allen Weston said late Tuesday. “All three of them were supposed to be stable the last time I checked, and that was a couple of hours ago.”

Weston said more arrests could be forthcoming, based on the results of the investigation which is ongoing. On Monday, that included serving a search warrant at the home where Patterson had been staying “to look for evidence of a crime.”

One item Police might have been seeking was a machete that witnesses said Patterson used to attack the teens.

“That is what they were telling us, is that they were hit, a machete was produced and that is what was used,” Weston said.

Weston said Police have not yet seen the machete. They did, however, find other knives left behind by others believed to have been involved in what he described as a “melee.”

“We have a couple of investigative leads we are looking at, but have not put forth any charges yet,” he said.

According to Maricopa City Code, none of the teens involved should have been outside when the fight broke out, possibly in connection with an argument over a girl. Curfew for those under 16 is between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., and for those 16 and 17 is between midnight and 5 a.m.

Weston said he could not confirm whether the teens or suspect had been drinking alcohol, but several witnesses said such was the case. He did say, however, that he does not believe it was more than a random act of violence.

“We do not believe it was gang related,” he said. “I think it was just an incident where two groups came together and there were some words exchanged. Who is to say, maybe alcohol had an affect on them. They might have thought they were a bit older and wiser than they should have been.”