Psychiatric evaluation ordered for Coachella stabbing suspect
A parolee who allegedly stabbed a man and woman in Coachella earlier this month will be evaluated by a psychologist, a judge ruled Monday.
Fernando Marquez Ramirez, 30, is accused in the Oct. 14 stabbings that occurred just before 3 a.m. in the 52300 block of Las Palmas Street. An unidentified 30-year-old Thermal resident was hospitalized for stab wounds to his left side, while a 28-year-old Coachella woman was treated and released, sheriff’s deputies said.
Read: Two people stabbed in Coachella, man arrested for attempted murder
Ramirez has yet to be criminally charged in connection with the stabbings, but is being held without bail for allegedly violating his parole by being arrested that night on suspicion of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon.
A probation violation report states that on Oct. 14, the victims were in Coachella to help a friend look for his stolen bicycle. They drove into the city and stopped on Las Palmas Street because a bicycle resembling the stolen one was seen in the front yard of a home.
While there, Ramirez and the male victim allegedly began fighting, and the female victim tried to intervene, according to sheriff’s Sgt. Andrew Nielsen. Both victims were allegedly stabbed by Ramirez, then fled in their car and stopped at a nearby gas station to call police.
Ramirez was arrested at the home later that morning, Nielsen said.
He was slated to be arraigned Monday on the parole violation case, but his attorney declared doubts as to his competence and criminal proceedings were suspended.
Ramirez was convicted in March of attempted carjacking and resisting arrest and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. However, after earning more than two years of credit time served in county jail to that point, he was released on parole on the date of his conviction, court records show.
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