Cedar Rapids stabbing suspect well-known to police

A Cedar Rapids man suffered a serious stab wound to his buttocks after a guest in his home attacked him, police said.

Officers arrested Michael Loftus, 48, address unknown, after he allegedly stabbed 44-year-old Christopher Rogers with a pocket knife at 1425 Sixth Ave. SE around 7 p.m. Sunday. Loftus is charged with willful injury causing bodily injury.

Sgt. Cristy Hamblin, a police spokeswoman, said the residents at the Sixth Avenue SE address were concerned about Loftus being out in the cold and agreed that he could stay there. But Loftus and Rogers, one of the residents, got into an argument that led to the scuffle.

Rogers had surgery at St. Luke's Hospital but his injuries were not considered life-threatening, Hamblin said. No patient by that name was listed at St. Luke's on Tuesday.

Loftus, who is well-known to police, was transported to the Linn County Jail. He has now been arrested 21 times since 1999, including four times in 2009, police said.