Police are searching for an Oakdale man suspected of stabbing another Oakdale man in the forearm following an argument. Benjamin Gayton, 29, is a local transient who is described as a Hispanic male, 5 feet 6 inches, 135 pounds, with very short, shaved brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing a ripped white tank top undershirt. Gayton has a tattoo on his right arm that reads, "Gayton."

According to police reports, officers were dispatched to the 300 block of South Third Avenue at 7:24 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 1 to investigate a possible stabbing. When they arrived they found the 26-year-old victim bleeding profusely from his forearm but he was concious and alert. The victim and his girlfriend stated they went to visit a friend and Gayton answered the door. Gayton immediately started fighting with the victim. The fight carried into the street where the suspect also punched the victim's girlfriend in the face. A friend of Gayton's also got involved in the fracas, which had moved to a gravel driveway adjacent to the house where the suspect stabbed the victim with an unknown weapon, possibly a pocketknife or kitchen knife. Gayton and his friend fled on foot and the victim was taken to Oak Valley Hospital for treatment.

Delete - Merge UpPolice are withholding the identities of the victim and his girlfriend to protect their safety. Gayton was already wanted for a parole violation and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on Gayton's whereabouts should call the Oakdale Police Department at 209-847-2231 regardless of the hour.