Novato Man Arrested on Stabbing, Hate Crime Charges

A 50-year-old San Marin Drive resident was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of stabbing another man at his home and using gay epithets in the process, adding a hate crime enhancement onto the charges, Novato police said.

Scott Frederick Matzke was arrested at , two blocks from his home, at around 6:45 p.m. for stabbing another man during an argument, according to Novato Police Officer Oliver Collins. It was unclear if the two men were roommates or if the victim was visiting Matzke, but they did know each other, Collins said.

The incident began at around 5:40 p.m. when the two men got into a heated argument, Collins said. He declined to comment on the origin of the argument. Matzke, a mechanic, stabbed the victim once with a knife, Collins said, and allegedly used homosexual epithets in the act, causing police to tack on a hate crime enhancement charge.

The victim’s wound was not life threatening and he was treated at the scene and released, Collins said. Matzke faces allegations of felony assault with a deadly weapon, along with the hate crime enhancement and a violation of probation. He remains in Marin County Jail on $50,000 bail.