Man suspected of pulling switchblade on Bay Area congressional candidate

CASTRO VALLEY, Calif. (AP) -- Authorities have arrested a man who allegedly tried to attack a political candidate with a switchblade in the San Francisco Bay Area. 

The San Jose Mercury News reports that investigators say the man approached Rudy Peters, a local Republican congressional candidate, at a Castro Valley festival on Sunday.

Peters and witnesses told authorities that the man made some comments about politicians and then pulled a knife and tried to stab Peters but the switchblade apparently malfunctioned.

The candidate then struggled with the man, who ran off.

Thirty-five-year-old Farzad Fazeli was arrested nearby on suspicion of assault. Authorities say he was carrying a knife.

It's unclear whether he has an attorney.