Man arrested in stabbing death

Simi Valley police arrested a 20-year-old man this week, following an investigation into the Tuesday night stabbing death of 48-year-old Simi resident Dominic Scamaldo, according to police reports.

Michael Ryan Challoner, whom detectives found Wednesday afternoon at a San Fernando Valley residence, was arrested and charged with murder at the Ventura County Jail. Challoner's arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today in courtroom 14.

At around 9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Simi Valley Police Department responded to a call regarding a fight in progress at the Boulder Creek Apartments complex in the 1900 block of Yosemite Avenue.

Upon arrival at the scene, police found Scamaldo, who had been stabbed, and transported him to Simi Valley Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at about 10:25 p.m.

As of Thursday morning, a motive for the homicide was still unknown. Police encourage anyone with any information regarding the incident to call the department's tip line at (805) 583-6984.

This is Simi Valley's second homicide of the new year.

Lauren Donahue, a 41-year-old transient, was arrested Feb. 6 for the murder of her 63yearold mother, Rose Weiss.

- Darleen Principe