Twenty-year-old Jabriel Levi Grisell of Scotts Valley was arrested on suspicion of stabbing two men at a party in Santa Cruz last weekend, but was released from jail this week.
Grisell, who is identified as a landscaper in Santa Cruz County Jail records, was booked on charges of attempted murder and assault after his arrest and held on $375,000 bail. Because charges were not filed by the 48-hour deadline, however, he legally had to be released from custody, assistant district attorney Dave Genochio said. Grisell was released Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Santa Cruz police spokesman Zach Friend said Grisell, who has no adult criminal record, knifed two acquaintances after a verbal argument escalated during a poker game.
The double stabbing occurred at 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, on the 100 block of Felix Street in Santa Cruz.
The district attorney’s office had prepared to file charges by the Tuesday deadline. However, new information surfaced that is now under investigation, and the initial charges are on hold, Genochio said.
“This investigation has become more complex than initially expected,” Genochio said.
According to police, Grisell and a 22-year-old man got into an argument that grew heated. Grisell then reportedly pulled a knife and stabbed the 22-year-old, Friend said. Another 20-year-old man who lives in the apartment was also stabbed when he tried to break up the fight.
Alcohol was involved, Friend said.
People at the party told police they didn’t know what the two argued about and said Grisell and the 22-year-old were friends.
One man went to a trauma center with multiple stab wounds to the chest and was upgraded to stable condition Sunday morning. The other man, who had at least one stab wound to the chest, was released from a hospital early Sunday.
“One of the victims described Grisell as a friend,” Friend said.
Grisell, who was identified by other partygoers, fled the scene after the stabbings and was found an hour later near Cedar Street and Birch Lane, Friend said.
“Friends of the victim went looking for him, as well,” Friend said.
