Police: Man stabbed during Petaluma drug deal gone bad

A Colorado man was jailed Thursday on suspicion of stabbing another man during a drug deal in Petaluma, police officials said.

A 54-year-old Petaluma man walked into a health clinic about 5:15 p.m. on East Washington Street just west of Highway 101 with a chest wound, Lt. Ron Klein said.

Witnesses described to police a man seen running away from the area, police said. Officers found a man matching that description later identified as Thomas Grenfell, 35, of Colorado, Sgt. Paul Gilman said.

Investigators suspect Grenfell was buying methamphetamine, with the victim acting as a middle man, when they began to argue, Gilman said. Grenfell claimed the victim got on top of him and hit him, so he pulled out a knife - possibly a 3-inch folding knife found by police - and stabbed him in the chest, according to police.

Police arrested Grenfell on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon and booked him into the Sonoma County Jail. The victim, who wasn’t identified, was treated at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital for the wound, which did not appear life-threatening, police officials said.