Westminster Man Arrested After Overnight Stabbing

OCEAN CITY, MD – (September 7, 2015): A Sterling, VA man suffered minor, non-life threatening injuries after an altercation ended with a stabbing. The suspect was arrested shortly after fleeing the scene.

On September 6, 2015, at approximately 10:20 p.m. Ocean City police responded to a hotel in the area of 48th Street in reference to a stabbing. As officers arrived on scene, they began treating a 29-year-old male victim of Sterling, VA that was suffering from a minor stab wound on his chest. Ocean City EMS responded to continue treatment and transported the victim to Peninsula Regional Medical Center with minor, non-life threatening injuries.

Prior to the incident, officers determined that the victim and a group of males were involved in an altercation in the area of 49th Street then when their separate ways. As the victim was walking away, the males pulled into the area in a vehicle, exited the vehicle and began fighting with the victim again. One of the males, later identified as Joseph L. Rodriguez, 23, of Westminster, MD, then stabbed the victim with a knife before fleeing the area in the vehicle.

Officers broadcasted a description of the vehicle and it was stopped a short time later in the area of 3rd Street and Philadelphia Avenue by Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police. Ocean City police responded and arrested Rodriguez without incident.

Rodriguez has been charged with first degree assault, second degree assault, reckless endangerment and possession of a weapon with intent to injure. Rodriguez is currently being held at the Ocean City Public Safety Building pending an initial appearance before a Maryland District Court Commissioner.