Parolee cleared of involvement in Placentia stabbing of Fullerton officer; suspect at large

The man who stabbed an off-duty Fullerton police officer in Placentia on Saturday, Sept. 22 remained at large Sunday afternoon after authorities cleared a man who had been arrested in connection to the attack.

Investigators no longer view James Carrera, 19, a parolee from Placentia, as a suspect in the assault that happened on Saturday at about 3:30 p.m near the intersection of Kraemer and Yorba Linda Boulevards, according to Placentia Police Sgt. John Gomez.

Carrera was arrested and named by police Saturday evening. Police said in a statement Sunday: “The ongoing investigation has now cleared the subject who had been arrested.”

Officers continued Sunday to seek an unidentified suspect who fled immediately after the stabbing in a strip-mall parking lot. Gomez described the person they were looking for as a thin man in his late teens or early 20s with short black hair who was last seen wearing a black baggy t-shirt.

The victim was released hours after being treated at a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to Fullerton Police Lt. Tony Rios. He said the injured officer was at home recovering the day after the attack and is expected to return to duty in the next few days.

“I spoke to him this morning and he seems to be doing well,” said Rios. “He’s a strong young guy and he should be back soon.”

Additional information regarding the circumstances of the stabbing were not immediately available from authorities Sunday afternoon, and police hadn’t determined a motive behind the assault. Anyone with information that can help them track down the assailant was asked to contact the Placentia Police Department at (714)-993-8146.