IRVINE – An 18-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly stabbing another man at an Irvine park when the victim refused to hand over fentanyl pills without payment during a drug deal gone wrong, authorities said Sunday.
The victim arranged to meet Eric Quintanilla at Orchard Park, 1 Van Buren, on Friday, and the two were seated in the victim’s vehicle when Quintanilla allegedly demanded the pills without payment. When the victim refused, the Irvine resident allegedly stabbed the victim in the neck several times, according to Lt. Bill Bingham of the Irvine Police Department.
“Quintanilla fled the scene on foot and the victim returned to Santa Ana, where he sought treatment by paramedics,” Bingham said. “The victim sustained non-life-threatening injuries.”
The victim reported to Santa Ana police that he had been stabbed at Orchard Park just after 1 p.m. Friday, Bingham said.
Detectives located Quintanilla at his Irvine home on Saturday. He was booked at the Orange County Jail and was being held without bail, police said.
The stabbing victim potentially faces charges related to drug sales, Bingham said.
Anyone with information regarding the incident was asked to contact Irvine police at [email protected].