By Mark LaFlamme,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – The search for a suspect in a Monday night stabbing intensified on Wednesday after a warrant was issued charging the man with attempted murder.

Antonio Avreu, 35, of 117 Pierce St., was named as the suspect in a stabbing on Pierce Street that left another man with wounds to his stomach and arm.

For two days, police in Lewiston and Auburn have been searching for Avreu to question him about the knifing that left 23-year-old Michael Lagasse hospitalized. Lagasse remained at Central Maine Medical Center Wednesday night and at his request, no information was being released on his condition.

On Wednesday, the district attorney’s office gave police the go-ahead to charge Avreu with attempted murder once he his found. Investigators say the charge reflects the viciousness of the knife attack that occurred as Avreu and Lagasse fought in the street.

Police also said they are prepared to arrest Avreu on the attempted murder charge even though Lagasse has said he does not want to pursue charges of any kind.

“There was no evidence that Mr. Lagasse was armed. We see no evidence of self-defense,” said Lewiston police Lt. Tom Avery. “An unprovoked stabbing shows extreme indifference to the value of human life.”

Lagasse was stabbed about 7 p.m. Monday after a brief brawl in front of Avreu’s Pierce Street home, according to witnesses. The victim then stumbled around the corner to Blake and Birch streets before he was taken to the hospital.

“These two men know of each other and they had a dispute,” Avery said. “We have witnesses who observed this.”

Police say they almost captured Avreu on two occasions shortly after the stabbing was reported. In one instance, an intoxicated man called an emergency dispatcher and claimed to be Avreu. The man told the dispatcher he was calling from CMMC, where Lagasse was undergoing surgery.

Avreu was not at the hospital when police went there. It was believed the phone call had come from another location.

Hours later, Auburn police spotted Avreu at a phone booth in that city, but the suspect ran off on foot before officers could close in. Police from both sides of the bridge swarmed on the area around Bonney Park, but Avreu was not found.

On Wednesday, police were still searching. Detectives were working on leads and beat officers were looking for the suspect on the streets. By Wednesday night, Avreu remained at large. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to call their local police department.

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