Stabbing suspect has extensive rap sheet

Published: February 9, 2008

By PAUL DAQUILANTE
Of the News-Register


A Dayton man who allegedly stabbed two men Wednesday night at the Ferry Street Landing in Dayton has an extensive criminal record, according to Deputy District Attorney Erin Greenawald.

She termed him a danger to the community, saying he has been arrested 25 times in all, seven of them for assault of varying degrees.

His convictions include second-degree assault in 1982 and 1994. He also faced an attempted murder charge in 1994, but it was dismissed.

The suspect was identified as Adalberto Montelongo Garcia, 57, 206 Mill St., No. 7.

He was arraigned Thursday afternoon in Yamhill County Circuit Court on two counts of second-degree assault, a Class B felony. It is a Measure 11 offense carrying a 70-month mandatory minimum prison sentence on conviction.

Judge Cal Tichenor set bail at $500,000 on the two assault charges. However, Garcia also faces a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement hold, which precludes his release under any circumstances.

Sheriff's Capt. Ken Summers identified the stabbing victims as Robert Danielson, 45, 2341 N.W. Baker Creek Road, McMinnville, and Yasar Uzun, 52, 2110 N.W. First St., Newberg.

They were transported by McMinnville Fire Department ambulance to Willamette Valley Medical Center in McMinnville, where they both underwent surgery. Afterward, Danielson was reported in good condition and Uzun in fair condition.

April Neill, who has tended bar at the tavern, located at 400 Ferry St., said she was standing near the bar when she heard a commotion and thought a fight was taking place. She said she went to a hallway, pulled Montelongo back from the confrontation and stepped in front of him.

She then turned her attention to one of the other parties to the fight, pushing one of them back, she said, when Montelongo came up behind her and swung his arm in the man's direction.

She said Montelongo had a small silver knife in his right hand and blood was dripping from the blade.

After the stabbing, Neill said, Montelongo fled through a door leading to Roman's Pizza next door. She said she ran to the front door of Roman's and tried to block it with her body to keep him from leaving.

Despite her efforts, Neill said, he was able to push the door open. She said he fled in the direction of his home, located just a few blocks from the tavern.

She said she knew from her bartending days that Montelongo carried a knife.

Dayton's contract deputy, Juan Palacios, provided the initial response at the scene.

He said he found the victims sitting in chairs, one with a wound in his side and the other with a wound in his stomach. He was told the assailant had fled on foot.

Dispatchers subsequently received a call from Montelongo saying he wanted to turn himself in. Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Ray was dispatched to his residence to take him into custody, with McMinnville police officers and Oregon State Police troopers providing backup.

When he searched Montelongo, Ray said he discovered a small silver knife with blood on the blade.

Montelongo told authorities he wasn't involved in the original altercation. He said he jumped into it after a pool cue was swung his direction, striking a wall when he ducked out of the way.

Afterward, he said, he encountered Neill trying to block his way out. He said he told her he needed to go home to change clothes and pushed past her.

He said he took a shower as well before calling 911 to turn himself in.

Salem attorney Ted Coran was appointed to represent Montelongo, who has a preliminary hearing set for 1:20 p.m. Thursday.

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