FARMINGDALE — A Gardiner man was arrested Tuesday and charged with stabbing a Farmingdale man multiple times near Maine Avenue and the Kennebec River Rail Trail.

The victim, a 31-year-old, was stabbed multiple times and was taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta. Kennebec County Sheriff’s Office officials did not identify the victim Wednesday, or provide information on his medical condition.

Deputies responded to the area of 553 Maine Ave. in Farmingdale around 5:16 p.m. Tuesday for a report of a stabbing. Deputies, with assistance from Maine State Police, blocked off an area near the Kennebec River Rail Trail and called for the sheriff office’s K-9 unit dog and handler to track the suspect, who had fled the scene, according to a news release from Lt. Chris Read.

Less than an hour later the dog, Read said, had pushed the suspect back toward the crime scene and the suspect, Hector Rivera, 26, of Gardiner, was apprehended after a brief struggle involving the dog.

Rivera also was taken by ambulance to MaineGeneral for treatment of what police described as “medical issues.” A hospital spokesperson said Wednesday evening Rivera was in good condition and still at the hospital.

Rivera was charged with elevated aggravated assault, violating a condition of release, unlawful furnishing of schedule W drugs, refusing to submit to arrest or detention, and falsifying physical evidence. The elevated aggravated assault charge, the most serious, is a Class A charge punishable by up to 30 years in prison.

Rivera is being held without bail.

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