Santa Rosa police arrested a man suspected of stabbing a male acquaintance near Sears in the lower level of Santa Rosa Plaza Thursday afternoon, a police sergeant said.

Sgt. Dave Linscomb said 22-year-old Jeremy Hogan of Santa Rosa was arrested for assault with a deadly weapon and booked in the Sonoma County jail. He was found after the stabbing on First Street south of the downtown plaza, Linscomb said. 

The unidentified 21-year-old stabbing victim, who remained conscious, suffered significant injuries from several stab wounds to the torso and was taken to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital, Linscomb said.

The two men, who were acquaintances, were walking in opposite directions in the mall and exchanged words as they passed each other, Linscomb said.

The stabbing victim hit Hogan, the men separated, and Hogan took out a knife and stabbed the victim, Linscomb said. Hogan escaped the mall through Sears.

Police were notified of the stabbing around 2:15 p.m., Linscomb said. 

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Santa Rosa police at (707) 543-3590.