Stabbing Suspect Arrested After Helicopter Search

After an overnight stakeout, Los Angeles county sheriff’s officers Monday arrested an unemployed San Fernando truck driver who allegedly stabbed a man in Canyon Country on Sunday night and then, armed with six weapons, hid in nearby hills.

Donald Morinskey, 36, surrendered to deputies about 7:30 a.m. and was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and held without bail, Sgt. David Taplin said.

Morinskey allegedly stabbed David Ringwalt, 46, of Canyon Country about midnight after he was caught trying to steal Ringwalt’s pickup truck, which was parked on the Sierra Highway. The truck stalled, and Morinskey fled on foot into the hills about 1 1/2 miles east of the highway, Taplin said.

Morinskey had four rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun, a 9-millimeter automatic pistol and at least 200 rounds of ammunition, the deputy said. Authorities were alerted to his location by another suspect in the stabbing, James Steele, 24, of Pacoima, Taplin said.

Steele said Morinskey “was up in the mountains” and that “he would kill anybody who would try to come and get him,” Taplin said.

About 13 sheriff’s deputies, helped by police dogs and a helicopter, patrolled the area between 2:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m.

Officers in the helicopter finally spotted Morinskey in a canyon and ordered him to surrender with his hands over his head, Detective Richard Cesaroni said. Morinskey then complied, he said.

Steele, who surrendered at the Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s substation, also was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Ringwalt, who was stabbed four times with a hunting knife in the back, head and chest, was listed in critical condition at Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital in Valencia.