SEASIDE – Nathan Swearengin, 22, is recovering after being stabbed in the chest Monday night. And the suspects have been arrested.

Seaside police responded at about 5 p.m. Monday to First Avenue and Holladay Drive, where they found Swearengin, a Seaside man, with a stab wound. While EMS personnel from the Seaside Volunteer Fire Department treated the victim, officers obtained a description of the vehicle and suspects.

Detective Sgt. Steve Barnett was returning from Portland on U.S. Highway 26 and saw the suspected vehicle heading east. He followed the vehicle for about 27 miles until other police officers arrived. “He did exactly what we expect people to do – not take action until they’ve got lots of help,” Police Chief Bob Gross said. “He did a nice job.”

On Highway 26 in Washington County, past the turnoff to Vernonia, an Oregon State Police trooper with assistance from the chief of North Plains Police Department and a deputy from Washington County stopped the vehicle and took the four occupants into custody without incident. They were transported back to Seaside and the vehicle was impounded. Clothing believed to have been worn by the suspects was later found dumped along the roadway on Highway 26 just east of Seaside.

Juan I. Ruvalcaba, 20, of Tigard, is charged with first-degree assault, attempted murder, menacing, disorderly conduct and possession of a controlled substance. Jesus R. Sotelo, 23, of Cornelius, is charged with first-degree assault, attempted murder, menacing, hindering prosecution, disorderly conduct and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. Both Ruvalcaba and Sotelo are being held at the Clatsop County Jail.

The 17-year-old female driver, from Cornelius, was charged with hindering prosecution and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. She is being held at the Oregon Youth Authority.

Zulema E. Arredondo, 19, of Tigard, was charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana and released following questioning. The case will be forwarded to the Clatsop County district attorney for review and formal charges.

Swearengin had surgery Monday evening at Columbia Memorial Hospital and is expected to recover. The investigation is ongoing and no motive for the attack has been established. The actual stabbing took place at the corner of Broadway and Holladay Drive and anyone who may have seen what happened and has not been contacted by police is asked to call the Seaside Police Department at 738-6311.