MANCHESTER - A 25-year-old man was stabbed early Wednesday morning as he was cleaning out his car at a South Willow Street car wash, according to police.

The man, who police did not identify in a press release, went to Catholic Medical Center to be treated for a stab wound to the stomach.

Police learned of the stabbing about 3:30 a.m., three hours after it happened, when hospital personnel called them.

The man told investigators he pulled his car into one of the bays at Kerner's Car Wash about 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. He decided to clean out the trash in his car before starting the wash and as he was doing that a man grabbed him from behind. When the victim head-butted the man in an effort to free himself, police said he was stabbed once in the abdomen.

The attacker ran off, heading east through the lot.

He is described as a dark-skinned Hispanic man, about 5-foot-8 with a thin build. He had short dark hair and wore a dark bandanna over the lower portion of his face. He also wore a dark-colored crew neck sweatshirt and dark-colored sweatpants with bright red Nike sneakers.

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to call police at 668-8711. Anonymous tips for cash rewards may be made through Manchester Crimeline at 624-4040 or online at manchestercrimeline.org .