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Calif. deputy stabbed in neck as she performs homeless outreach

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department deputy is expected to recover; the suspect was arrested following a manhunt

O.C. sheriff's deputy is stabbed as she performs homeless outreach; suspect arrested

“All of our deputies are trained in the different resources available to homeless people,” Parrish said. “When they are out there doing their patrols, we encourage them to talk to homeless people, see if they are aware of these services and if they are able to connect them to help.”

Orange County Sheriff’s Department

By Clara Harter
Los Angeles Times

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. — Authorities have arrested a man suspected in the stabbing of an Orange County sheriff’s deputy while she was conducting routine homeless outreach in San Clemente.

The incident took place around 2:15 p.m. Tuesday near the 1700 block of Avenida Estacion, according to the Sheriff’s Department. The deputy suffered a non-life-threatening 1-inch cut to her neck and was taken to a hospital and later released, department spokesperson Matthew Parrish said.

The man ran off, prompting the Sheriff’s Department to issue temporary shelter-in-place warnings at two nearby schools and warn the public to stay away from the area while a manhunt ensued.

On Wednesday afternoon, the department announced that state park rangers had found the suspect, Moses Paulisin, 35, at San Onofre State Beach. He was arrested and will be booked on suspicion of attempted murder, resisting arrest and assault with a deadly weapon, according to the department.

The deputy is expected to make a full recovery.

“All of our deputies are trained in the different resources available to homeless people,” Parrish said. “When they are out there doing their patrols, we encourage them to talk to homeless people, see if they are aware of these services and if they are able to connect them to help.”

The department initially sought the public’s help in finding the suspect, who is a known transient in the area.

“If you see the suspect, do not approach him and call 9-1-1,” the department said in a post on X. “Thank you to the community for your assistance and patience during this incident.”

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
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