VIDALIA — A man living in the Budget Inn in Vidalia was arrested after allegedly stabbing his hotel roommate Sunday evening.

Vidalia Police Chief Ronnie G. “Tapper” Hendricks said officers were dispatched to the hotel at approximately 5:41 p.m. in reference to a stabbing.

Upon arrival, the officers found the victim, Hector Bazan Carranza, 39.

“He was sitting on the bed, he had wounds on his left arm and his upper chest area,” Hendricks said.

Also in the hotel room were three witnesses, but the suspect, Juan Francesco Rodriguez Alcaza, 35, had fled on foot.

Hendricks said roughly an hour after the reported stabbing occurred, a Vidalia police officer identified and arrested Alcaza at the Budget Inn.

The victim had been transported to Natchez Regional Medical Center, where he was treated and released at 8 a.m. Monday.

The motive for the stabbing is still under investigation, Hendricks sad.

“Definitely alcohol was involved; it had a big factor in it,” he said.

Hendricks said both men were living at the hotel while doing construction work in the area.

The weapon is believed to be a knife, Hendricks said, and the police department is looking to obtain it at this point.

Alcaza was charged with attempted second-degree murder.

He was being held at the Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office without bond.