Crime & Safety

Napa County Fugitive Arrested on Suspicion of Attempted Murder

Multi-jurisdictional investigation leads to arrest.

 A 32-year-old Fairfield man wanted on a Napa County warrant was arrested today in connection with an incident that led to llfe-threatening stab wounds on a 21-year-old patient at Queen of the Valley Medical Center.

Nicholas Steven Cornwell was arrested by Solano County Sheriff's deputies after an intense seven-hour investigation involving Napa Police, Napa County Sheriff's Office and Solano County law enforcement.

The case started at 3:30 a.m. Monday, when the Solano County Sheriff’s Office was notified by the Napa County Sheriff’s Office regarding a 21-year-old man who was brought to Queen of the Valley Medical Center in Napa with a life- threatening knife wound.

Deputies learned that the injured subject was transported to the hospital by a group of friends from an address in the 3500 block of Miners Trail, just outside Napa County on Highway 12.

Napa Police Department was originally notified by hospital staff when the victim arrived at the hospital with a life-threatening knife wound.  Napa Police  then notified the Napa Sheriff’s Office, believing the incident occurred in their jurisdiction.

After their initial investigation, the Napa Sheriff’s Office determined the crime actually occurred just outside of Napa County within Solano County.  
Deputies from Solano County arrived at the hospital and spoke with the subjects who had transported the victim to the hospital.

At the same time, Solano deputies were also dispatched to the residence on Miners Trail.

Deputies on Miners Trail met with Napa County deputies and were told that a subject may have fled the residence when the Napa deputies arrived.

A perimeter was established and a search of the heavily wooded area near the residence was conducted.

The suspect in the case was identified but not located during the area search. The search was eventually called off and deputies followed up on various leads related to the suspect.  

The suspect was identified as Cornwell, a Fairfield resident currently on Post Release Community Supervision out of Napa County.

Deputies also learned that Cornwell had an outstanding arrest warrant out of Napa County for violating the terms of his PRCS.  

Solano County Deputy Mike Waller remained in the area.
At approximately 10:10 a.m., Waller observed a subject matching the suspect’s description walking in the 100 block of Red Top Road.

Waller made contact with the subject, identified the subject as the outstanding suspect in the attempted murder, and took him into custody without incident.

At the time of his arrest, Cornwell was found to be wearing a bulletproof vest, which is also a violation of the law.  

Cornwell was transported and booked into the Solano County Jail on the following felony charges: attempted murder, possession of body armor by a convicted violent felon, and the outstanding PRCS violation warrant out of Napa County.

Cornwell is being held without bail. His first court appearance is scheduled for Wednesday Jan. 29 at 1:30 p.m. in the Fairfield Courthouse.


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