A 34-year-old Pacifica man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a 31-year-old man was stabbed outside the San Benito House in the 300 block of Main Street in downtown Half Moon Bay at about 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17, while crowds from the Half Moon Bay Art & Pumpkin Festival were still on the street, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies were called to a report of a fight outside the business and found the man with serious injuries consistent with a stabbing. He was taken to a hospital, where he was listed in stable condition, the Sheriff's Office told NBC Bay Area.

Deputies say they saw the suspect toss a knife

Deputies who were already nearby saw a man running from the area and throwing away a knife, according to the Sheriff's Office. They caught him, identified him as Ricardo Raya of Pacifica, and recovered the knife. The Sheriff's Office Gang Intelligence Unit helped with the case, and investigators believe both the suspect and the injured man are involved in gang activity.

Raya was booked into Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City on suspicion of attempted murder and participating in a criminal street gang. He has not been convicted of any crime, and it was not clear as of Monday whether the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office had filed charges.

The Sheriff's Office said early information points to an isolated attack and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Festival crowds still on Main Street

Chris Cheeseman, who owns the San Benito House, told Bay Area News Group his security camera recorded the fight. He said a small group had been in the street for about 10 minutes before someone else came out and pointed at them, "and that's what started it." He described the people involved as young and "not making good decisions."

Cheeseman estimated the festival drew upwards of 60,000 people on Saturday, and said Main Street stays closed to cars all day and into the night, with many people still walking up and down the street after dark. The festival ran Oct. 17 and 18; our festival preview has the schedule and Highway 92 traffic advice.

Anyone with information is asked to call the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office at 650-363-4911. Anonymous tips can be left at 1-800-547-2700.