UKIAH, CA., 1/6/25 – Ukiah police on Tuesday announced the arrest of two men for allegedly using a machete and sword to stab a man and take a dog from him last week.
Pete Gonzales and Adam Smith, both 23-year-old Ukiah residents, were arrested following the stabbing reported at about 3:45 p.m. Wednesday at 995 S. State St., where officers arrived and found a 33-year-old bleeding from his neck, chest and hand, according to police.
The victim was taken to a hospital in what police said was “extremely critical condition” and an update on his condition was not immediately available Tuesday.
Investigators found security cameras from nearby businesses that had footage showing two suspects and the victim with a dog walking behind the building. A short time later, the footage showed the victim staggering out toward the road and asking for help while the suspects fled, with one suspect carrying the black-and-white dog over his shoulder, police said.
Officers identified Smith as one of the suspects and contacted him at his home, where they noticed he had shaved his head in what he would later allegedly admit was an attempt to alter his appearance following the attack, according to police.
Smith allegedly admitted that he and Gonzales had lured the victim behind the building to take the dog away from him and give it to Smith’s girlfriend. During the confrontation, Smith allegedly drew a large sword from a sheath and Gonzales pulled out a machete. Smith allegedly stabbed the victim in the chest and Gonzales struck him in the back of the neck with the machete, police said.
Gonzales was located later in the day and was taken into custody without incident, and the dog was found as well, police said. Both suspects were booked into Mendocino County Jail on more than $1 million bail and remained in custody as of Tuesday, according to jail booking logs.
The pair are accused of attempted murder, mayhem, robbery, and conspiracy, and Gonzales was also booked for alleged possession of a controlled substance, police said.
Must have been quite the pooch the pair imagined they needed while smoking that heavy carpet adhesive.
Hopefully the girlfriend is adjusting her dating profile online to attract less onerous cave dwelling sorcerers.
Violent crime seems to be increasing in Ukiah. Especially on State Street. Do we need to call ICE? I hope this victim fully recovers and gets his dog back. Not only does he have physical wounds but if he is as attached to his dog as most if us are, his heart is broken.
Lmao the ICE joke was funny, but yeah, it does suck that there is violent crime in the middle of Ukiah
Readers want hear details! Did the girlfriend know about this ahead of time? What kind of dog? Where is it now? This poor man!! Hopefully he’s revovering
So… Don’t believe everything you read either. The “victim” was giving this dog prior, when the original owner found out that he was abusing the dog, she sent her boyfriend to go get her dog back. Something happened during that time. No one could speculate. The guy was a dog abusive though. I can say that much.
Amanda Kennedy- thank you for your above comment. My name is Bee Rogers. I am close to the family of her boyfriend. If you could call me 707-391-9265 I would so appreciate it. Please.
Still not okay to try to kill the man, even though I hate animal abusers and believe we should be able to give em a few hard smacks or starve em to see how they like it.
I’ve been enjoying The Mendocino Voice for several months now. Unfortunately, I find myself gritting my teeth at the unrelenting use of the word “allegedly” in the reporting of local criminal activity. I understand the need for journalists (and law enforcement personnel) to protect against charges of liable and slander, but surely you can all find numerous words and phrases to substitute for the incessant use of “allegedly”.
Thank you for your dedication to fine journalism.
Deen