PASADENA — Police, with the help of a tow truck driver, arrested a Pasadena man on suspicion of stabbing an acquaintance during an argument early Sunday, authorities said.

Carlos Mauricio Lopez, 23, was booked on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the 2:40 a.m. stabbing in the 700 block of Worcester Avenue, Pasadena police Lt. Chris Russ said.

He became involved in an argument with an acquaintance, a 24-year-old Pasadena man, and stabbed him in the upper torso with a small knife, the lieutenant said. Lopez then fled the scene.

“A driver for local tow service heard the broadcast on the police scanner and was in the immediate area,” Russ said. “(He) observed a suspect matching the description and kept him under observation until officers arrived.”

The wounded man was rushed to a hospital in critical condition, police said. After undergoing surgery, he was upgraded to guarded but stable condition.

On of the first officials on-scene, Officer Matthew Griffin, immediately applied pressure to the victims wound, “slowing the loss of blood and possibly saving the victim’s life,” Russ said.

According to sheriff’s booking records, Lopez was being held in lieu of $1 million bail.