BELLAIRE - The Bellaire Police Department is working with local departments from West Virginia in hopes of tracking down the alleged attacker/attackers from the village's second assault by stabbing in less than a month.
Late Wednesday evening, a stabbing was reported at a Franklin Street residence at approximately 9 p.m.
The male victim told police that a group of suspects broke into his home, committed the act and fled in a red Jeep Liberty with West Virginia tags.
According to Bellaire Police Chief Mike Kovalyk, the victim reported he did not know any of the attackers who have been described as a group of white males.
The victim was transported to Ohio Valley Medical Center for treatment and has been since released.
"His injuries were non-life threatening," Kovalyk said. "We're working some different angles and cooperating with other area departments."
According to police reports, the Liberty left the scene and was witnessed driving toward Belmont County Road 214.
One of the alleged assailants was described as a white male in his mid 40s with shoulder-length hair.
This comes less than a month after a female was attacked in the early morning hours inside her Atchison Rd. home.
The woman, who was taken in for emergency surgery at OVMC after suffering more than 20 stab wounds, also has recovered. The suspect or suspects in that case are also still at large.
"It's a cause for concern because there have been two and it's not even summertime yet," Kovalyk said. "We don't believe there is any connection however."
Kovalyk said he believes in both cases, someone knows or witnessed something that they have yet to inform the police department.
He's encouraging anyone with any information or lead, no matter how small the tidbit may be, to come forward and contact the police department or stop by.
"We follow up every little bit of information we receive, it doesn't make any difference how small," Kovalyk said. "We'll check into it an investigate it.
"In each case, someone knows what happened and someone eventually will say something about what happened.
"I'm confident that in both cases, we're going to find out what happened and get to the bottom of it."
Hughes may be reached at mhughes@timesleaderonline.com.
