FERNDALE - A Ferndale man accused of stabbing his stepfather in the torso sent police on a 1 1/2-hour manhunt Monday evening, March 11.

Police believe Joseph Michael Delgado, 24, got into a heated argument with his 52-year-old mother at 5:30 p.m. in their house in the 2400 block of Nicholas Road. Delgado flew into a rage "for reasons we don't know at this time" - beating his mother and threatening to kill her, said Ferndale Police Lt. Bill Hatchett.

His stepfather, 52, eventually came home and interrupted the attack. Delgado charged at him in the front doorway, Hatchett said. They continued to fight out in the yard, punching each other in the face.

During the scuffle, Delgado allegedly stabbed his stepfather below the bellybutton with a fixed-blade knife, Hatchett said. Then the stepfather fought him off.

Delgado ran. Police dogs tracked him to some brush in the 2500 block of Thornton Street, about a half mile from the crime scene. On the way to the hiding spot, officers found a knife with a 4-inch blade.

An ambulance rushed the stepfather to St. Joseph hospital. He was released later in the evening. The mother had bruising to her face but didn't need immediate medical treatment.

Police arrested Delgado on suspicion of first-degree assault.

Reach Caleb Hutton at 360-715-2276 or caleb.hutton@bellinghamherald.com. Read his dispatcher blog at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/dispatcher or follow him on Twitter at @bhamcrime.