San Francisco police located a possible narcotics lab on Treasure Island while responding to a stabbing that left a man with serious injuries Thursday morning.
According to police, the stabbing was reported at an apartment in the 1400 block of Gateview Court on Treasure Island at about 9 a.m. Thursday.
Police also received a report of a person with a gun, but no gunshot wounds have been reported.
San Francisco police Officer Grace Gatpandan said the victim, a 48-year-old San Francisco man, knew the alleged suspect.
The victim was found inside the apartment suffering from life-threatening injuries allegedly inflicted by a knife and was transported to San Francisco General Hospital for treatment, according to Gatpandan.
Officers located the suspect, identified as 55-year-old San Francisco resident Paul VanSyckel at the scene and arrested him on suspicion of attempted murder, Gatpandan said.
During the investigation a science lab consisting of glass containers and powders was located inside the apartment, according to Gatpandan.
A hazardous materials unit responded to the apartment and determined that there were no hazardous fumes inside. The materials are in the process of being tested, according to Gatpandan.
San Francisco police are continuing to investigate the motive for the attack.
A neighbor on Treasure Island, who declined to be identified by name, said she lives close to the scene of the incident and has known VanSyckel for years.
She said she believes VanSyckel, who lives a couple blocks away from her on Treasure Island, was acting in self-defense.
The neighbor said that VanSyckel was renting the apartment out to three males, one of whom is a biochemistry student, and that he might have been responsible for the lab located by police.
According to the neighbor, she met VanSyckel while working for the U.S. Census Bureau during the 2010 census and said she is watching VanSyckel’s dog for him while he is in police custody.
Hannah Albarazi, Bay City News
