OROVILLE – Police are investigating an assault on an Oroville man who was stabbed several times, including in the chest and back and once in the head.

John R. Omer, 58, was found bleeding the morning of Thursday, July 31 in his residence in back of the old blacksmith’s shop at 1 Balmes Rd, just north of the Cherry Street Bridge. Omer was found by his landlord who called emergency services and the victim was then transported to North Valley Hospital in Tonasket, according to Sheriff Frank Rogers. He was later transported to Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane.

Several sheriff’s deputies, including Chief Criminal Deputy David Rodriguez, encircled the scene with yellow police tape. They were seen gathering evidence and sealing it in evidence bags that afternoon. An evidence tag with the number one could also be seen. At the scene Rodriguez said it was too early to speculate how the assault occurred or who committed it.

“We have executed a search warrant at the residence and are finished up there now. We have no suspects at this time and no one in custody,” said Sheriff Rogers on Thursday, adding, “At the scene Omer was very uncooperative and refused to tell our guys anything.”

The Okanogan Sheriff’s Department had a detective in Spokane and the sheriff said he sent her to interview Omer in the hospital there.

“He is still being uncooperative… he keeps telling us he doesn’t know what happened,” said Rogers.

The case is still under investigation.

Okanogan County Sheriff’s Deputies served a search warrant and gathered and tagged evidence at the scene.