Police arrest man, search for another in fatal stabbing

A man was arrested Sunday in the death of another man stabbed in National City Saturday night, and police are looking for a second suspect, a lieutenant said Tuesday.

Eleazar Mariscal, 34, was arrested and booked into jail on a murder charge in the death of 25-year-old Eduardo Ortega Jr.

Police tried to pull over the second suspect Tuesday, but he got away and was not found, National City police Lt. Robert Rounds said.

Ortega was found with stab wounds on North Highland Avenue near Division Street about 11:30 p.m. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died shortly after.

National City police detectives began observing Monday the home of the second suspect, 19-year-old Enrique Cruz Pompa, on 33rd Street near Ocean View Boulevard in Logan Heights, Rounds said. On Tuesday, detectives saw Pompa drive by in a truck, with another unidentified man also inside, about 2:30 p.m.

Officers were called out and tried to stop the white Chevrolet truck, but Pompa drove away.

They found the truck abandoned near 35th Street and Valle Avenue, on a hill, as it was rolling backwards. The truck clipped the rear bumper of a police vehicle, Rounds said.

The lieutenant said police found evidence in the truck, but would not say what it was.

He said police believe Pompa and his companion ran eastbound through drainage ditches and yards.

National City and San Diego police worked to set up a perimeter in the area. Officers searched for the men with the help of dogs and a helicopter. Detectives also checked several homes in the area where Pompa’s acquaintances live.

Police were not able to locate the men, and the search was called off about 4 p.m. Detectives continued to go to several homes until about 8 p.m., Rounds said.

Pompa is described as Latino, about 5 feet 8 inches tall, 180 pounds, with a stocky build and shoulder-length black hair. Police say he is considered armed and dangerous.

Rounds said several leads and surveillance footage led detectives to Pompa and Mariscal, who was arrested at his home on Epsilon Street in the Shelltown neighborhood.

National City police ask anyone with information about Pompa to call the department at (619) 336-4411.