Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies have arrested 26-year-old Edson Sandoval and his 30-year-old brother Carlos Sandoval, both of Laton. The two men are being treated at the hospital for dog bite injuries and will later be booked into the Fresno County Jail. Edson Sandoval faces three felony counts of assault with a deadly weapon and five felony counts of battery on an officer. Carlos Sandoval faces five felony counts of battery on an officer.

Around 2:30 pm on Friday, a woman ran for help from a home on Bliss Avenue to nearby Laton Elementary School. There she found a group of Fresno County Sheriff’s deputies who were participating in a K-9 handling demonstration for students. The woman told deputies a fight was taking place at her home and one of the men had a knife. The three deputies, along with two other deputies who happened to be at the school conducting a follow-up investigation, responded to the home. They entered the backyard and found three brothers on the ground fighting. Deputies worked to separate them. One man who had a serious stab wound was quickly taken aside. Deputies tried to pull the other two apart; Carlos Sandoval who was unarmed and Edson Sandoval who was holding a knife. Carlos became combative, fighting with deputies until K-9 Ute was deployed and bit Carlos, allowing deputies to handcuff him. Meanwhile, Edson, who appeared to be under the influence of an unknown substance, moved in and attacked all five deputies. They fought until K-9 Ute was able to be deployed again and bite Edson. This allowed deputies to handcuff him as well.

Deputies requested that several ambulances respond to the home. They then found a woman, the mother of the Sandoval brothers, suffering from a serious stab wound to her stomach. The California Highway Patrol’s helicopter (H40) flew in, landed and transported the woman to Community Medical Center in Fresno. She was taken into surgery and is expected to survive. Ambulances transported the three brothers to the hospital as well. All of the deputies involved received minor injuries and were given the necessary medical treatment.

It was truly fortunate that these deputies happened to be at the school. It put them in a position to respond faster than usual, which likely prevented anyone from dying during this incident.

Anyone with additional information on the suspects in this case is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Office at (559) 600-3111 or Crime Stoppers at (559) 498-7867. You will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.