Man arrested at hospital after stabbing

A Laguna Beach man was stabbed in the abdomen Monday when he answered his door in the 100 block of Cozumel Court, Laguna Beach police said Tuesday.

The suspect, Carlos Joaquin Sandoval, 27, of Fullerton, has been charged by the Orange County District Attorney’s office with attempted murder, making criminal threats, false imprisonment by violence or deceit, and burglary. He faces sentencing enhancements for acting deliberately and with a knife to cause great bodily injury to the victim, according to the complaint filed today.

Bail was set at $1 million. Sandoval is being held in Orange County Jail, according to jail records.

The victim said someone pounded on his apartment door at 5:45 a.m. Monday. When he opened the door he was immediately stabbed by Sandoval, Kravetz said.

The victim grabbed a baseball bat, but could not overpower the suspect, Kravetz said.

According to police, an 18-year-old female guest in the home heard the altercation and hid in the bathroom. At some point Sandoval entered the bathroom and threatened to harm her unless she complied with his demands. He then took both victims into the living room, sat them on the couch and allegedly began to threaten their lives.

The victims eventually convinced Sandoval to drive them to Saddleback Hospital, where the stabbing victim was treated, but he was later transferred to Mission Hospital Trauma Center in Mission Viejo.

Saddleback Hospital summoned the Orange County Sheriff’s Department to the scene, where they detained the suspect until Laguna Beach police arrived and arrested Sandoval.

Kravetz said the incident stemmed from a love triangle. The female had dated Sandoval until three months ago and is now dating the Laguna Beach victim. Apparently Sandoval learned of the relationship early Monday.

“He showed up unannounced at the apartment in order to exact revenge,” Kravetz said.

The victim is expected to fully recover.