Deputies with the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office have booked 51 year old Spencer Gilbert of Reedley into the Fresno County Jail on a charge of attempted murder.  His bail is set at $500,000.

Around 8:00 am on Wednesday, dispatchers received a report of a man stabbing a woman multiple times.  This was occurring in a parking lot on Tulare Street, between L and M Streets in downtown Fresno.  Deputies assigned to work in the nearby Superior Courthouse responded and detained Spencer Gilbert.  At the same time, they worked with medics to treat the stabbing victim, a 61 year old woman.  She was transported to Community Regional Medical Center.  She suffered serious injuries, but is stable and doctors say she will recover.

Deputies later learned that the suspect and victim know each other.  They arrived together in a car.  The woman was driving Gilbert to his court hearing related to a previous arrest for DUI and evading police.  Once they parked, Gilbert became upset for unknown reasons.  He began to stab the woman repeatedly while they were inside the car.  Gilbert then dropped the large knife and began to walk away.  A citizen called out to Gilbert to stop, sit down and wait for law enforcement.  Gilbert complied by sitting on the ground until deputies arrived and arrested him.

Anyone with additional information about this case is asked to please contact Detective Carl Chalmers at (559) 600-8207 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867, www.valleycrimestoppers.org  You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.