RECORDER STAFF REPORT
Authorities are investigating three violent assaults that occurred Sunday, including a stabbing at a popular Porterville establishment.

Two men were stabbed early Sunday morning outside of Charlie’s Pizza Kitchen, Tulare County Sheriff’s Department deputies said. Deputies interviewed the men, Jose Alvarado, 23, of Porterville and Rene Cavazos, 30, of Terra Bella, at Sierra View District Hospital shortly after 1 p.m. after being dispatched there to investigate an assault.

Alvarado and Cavazos reportedly told deputies they were assaulted by several people outside of the restaurant, for unknown reasons. Doctors released Alvarado from the hospital after treating him for several puncture wounds to his torso area, the Sheriff’s Department reports.

Cavazos was admitted to the hospital for observation for several non-life threatening puncture wounds to his torso. Three hours later, deputies again were at Sierra View, this time investigating an early-morning shooting in Poplar.

Deputies reportedly discovered during the investigation that 45-year-old Maria Montez was in her home in the 14400 block of Road 192 when a person she did not know shot her for unknown reasons. Her wounds were not considered life threatening.

On Sunday evening, deputies responded to the area of Reservation Road east of Success Valley Drive, where a man was found on the side of the roadway. Bruce Wayne Robertson reportedly told deputies that a red truck struck him as he was walking along the shoulder of the road, then drove away.

Paramedics transported Robertson to Sierra View, where he was treated for his injuries. All three cases were under investigation by the Sheriff’s Department.

This story was published in The Porterville Recorder on May 1, 2007