Police looking for more witnesses to stabbing that paralyzed man

Investigators looking for people who may have witnessed a stabbing that paralyzed a man in April.

A 30-year-old man was permanently injured after he was stabbed following a fight at BomBon Restaurant Bar & Lounge, 1118 N. Washington Blvd. in Sarasota around 3 a.m. on April 15, according to Sarasota police.

The man had been stabbed in the lower back and there was a pool of blood outside the bar, according to the probable cause affidavit. The injured man was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital where police were told the victim was paralyzed from the stabbing.

Nine days later, police arrested Jose Lozada-Alvarez, 18, and charged him with aggravated battery with permanent serious bodily injury. Lozada-Alvarez told investigators he was at the bar but denied stabbing the man and said he didn’t remember having a knife.

Genevieve Judge, public information officer for the Sarasota Police Department, said the case is being prepared for trial and investigators are looking for additional information in the case.

Lozada-Alvarez pleaded not guilty to the charge on April 28, according to court records. A docket sounding is set for Nov. 6 and a jury trial is scheduled for Nov. 27.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Detective Maria Llovio at 941-364-7336 or Detective Ross Revill at 941-954-7092 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers by calling 941-366-TIPS or online at www.sarasotacrimestoppers.com

This story was originally published November 2, 2017 at 3:36 PM with the headline "Police looking for more witnesses to stabbing that paralyzed man."