Benicia man hospitalized with chest wounds

By Donna Beth Weilenman
Staff Reporter

MICHAEL PENDERGAST is being held in Saturday’s stabbing.
Courtesy BPD

A 40-year-old Benicia man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after being stabbed early Saturday, police Lt. Mike Daley said — the second violent episode in the city in as many days.

The victim, whose name was not released by police, was among several people in two groups that were involved in fights near a parking lot on Military East and in the vicinity of East Fifth and East L streets, Daley said.

Police initially were called about 1:30 a.m. Saturday to a fight near a parking lot on the 400 block of Military East, Daley said. The responding officers spoke to three men, a 34-year-old American Canyon resident, a 31-year-old of Fairfield and a 44-year-old from Benicia.

While they were talking to the trio, police learned of a stabbing at a home on the 500 block of East K St., Daley said. They found a 40-year-old Benicia man at his East K Street home, lying on the garage floor with two knife wounds to his chest, Daley said.

The man accused the American Canyon man, Michael Pendergast, of stabbing him while he was in the area of East Fifth and East L streets, Daley said. The injured man was transported to John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek.

“It appears two groups of people were involved in this incident, and most knew each other,” Daley said.

He said the incidents began when a group of men, including Pendergast, were drinking at a local bar. The victim’s 30-year-old girlfriend also was there.

“The victim’s girlfriend walked home and told the victim and two other friends of the victim that the three men at the bar had followed her as she walked home,” Daley said.

“The victim and his two friends, a 35-year-old Benicia resident and a 33-year-old Benicia resident, left home on East K Street and confronted the other three men in the area of East Fifth and L Street,” Daley said.

The men began fighting, and Pendergast was described as having stabbed the victim during the scuffle, Daley said. The 33-year-old Benicia man suffered a serious cut to his chin, Daley said.

The victim and his two friends went to the victim’s home and called police. The Benicia man whose chin was cut was treated at Sutter Solano Hospital in Vallejo but was not admitted, Daley said.

The knife used in the fight was found later Saturday, Daley said.

Pendergast has been charged with attempted murder, and was booked into Solano County Jail in Fairfield without bond.

“At this point, it looks like alcohol was a factor in the behavior of all involved,” Daley said.

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