A 29-year-old Modesto woman was arrested Thursday afternoon for allegedly attacking a man several times in the chest as he was driving her from a bar the prior day.

Investigators believe the stabbing occurred on Carpenter Road near Hatch Road but Ceres Police were contacted because the victim believes suspect Sarai Rangel Villasenor, 29, of Modesto, stole money from his wallet as he stopped to buy items at a Ceres gas station prior to the attack.

According to Ceres Police Department spokesman Sgt. Greg Yotsuya, the victim in the case sustained non-life-threatening wounds at around 1 a.m. but did not notify police until 4 p.m. He told police that he met Villasenor at Latino's Bar at 2150 Mitchell Road at 1 a.m. Wednesday. After a brief chat, Villasenor asked the man for a ride to her vehicle and they both left the bar in his car. After stopping at a convenience store in Ceres to purchase a few items he noticed a large amount of money missing from his wallet and believed Villasenor stole it since she was the only other person in the vehicle. He confronted her about it and as the ride continued an argument escalated to a physical struggle. Sgt. Yotsuya said Villasenor pulled a pocket knife from her pocket and stabbed the man in the chest multiple times as he drove.

As the car slowed during the attack Villasenor jumped out and the victim drove away to seek his own medical attention at an area hospital. He was treated and released.

Villasenor was arrested at her home in Modesto at around 3 p.m. Thursday. She was booked at the County Jail on charges of assault with a deadly weapon.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information about the incident may remain anonymous and is encouraged to contact the Detective Bryan Ferreira at 538-5616.