Several people were hurt and one man arrested on suspicion of attempted murder by Oakdale Police following a stabbing early morning Saturday, Feb. 25 at a local bar.
According to police reports, Benjamin Alexander Crouch, 22, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and booked at the Stanislaus County Jail after officers were dispatched to a stabbing at the Battered Beaver bar in the 100 block of N. Yosemite Ave., about 1:15 a.m. Saturday. A second subject was detained at the scene but subsequently released.
Five young men, all i n their early to mid-20s, sustained serious injuries in the dangerous melee that erupted during the fight that occurred at the Battered Beaver. Three of the four who sustained stab wounds are still in the hospital for treatment of what Oakdale Police Det. Max Messina called “very serious injuries.”
Calls to the Battered Beaver were not returned by press time.
Although the case is still under investigation, police are fairly certain the fight was not gang-related. None of the victims knew Crouch or Crouch’s male companion.
“The fight seemed unprovoked,” Det. Messina stated.
Messina said the fight seemed to stem from a mild verbal exchange after one of the men accidentally bumped into Crouch’s friend. One of the victims was a bartender who tried to break apart the fight and ended up getting stabbed.
The knife Crouch used to stab the victims was described as a large pocketknife.
Anyone with information regarding this case should contact the Oakdale Police Department, Det. Max Messina, at 209-847-2231.
Detectives Brian Shimmel and Max Messina are investigating.

Leader staff reporter Kim Van Meter contributed to this report.