DENVER (CBS4) – Denver Fire Chief Eric Tade was stabbed downtown and was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. A woman was arrested in connection to the stabbing.

Tade was stabbed early Tuesday afternoon close to Denver Fire Department Station No. 1, which is located near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Speer Boulevard. He was in a black, unmarked SUV.

Marlene Zacevich-Rodriguez, 42, has been arrested in connection with the stabbing. She’s being held for investigation of aggravated assault. Final charges will be determined by the Denver District Attorney’s Office.

Tade was inside the vehicle at Speer and Kalamath when the woman jumped in and attacked him. He was stabbed in his hand and has a superficial injury to his right leg. Tade has been chief for six years. He has been with the department for 24 years.

Tade went to the fire station for immediate treatment and then was rushed to the hospital. He has since been released and is recovering at home.

Crime tape was blocking off part of the entrance to the fire station, which also serves as the Denver Fire Department headquarters, at 2:15 p.m. Speer Boulevard remained open and fire trucks were able to leave and arrive at the fire station.

Police said witnesses helped police capture Zacevich-Rodriguez.

“There were witnesses, witnesses actually helped locate the suspect in this case, they pointed officers to our suspect who was taken into custody,” Denver Police Department spokesperson Doug Schepman said.

“I just happened to see this SUV crossing Speer with its doors wide open going about 2 miles per hour,” witness Richard Castro said.

Zacevich-Rodriguez has a criminal history dating back to the early 1990s with several arrests for domestic violence, assaults and DUI.

The motive behind the attack is being investigated.

“Motive is unknown at this time, we have alerted all of our firefighters as to the situation that occurred so that they can be aware, but we are really, really fortunate that … that these injuries were not more serious,” Denver Fire Department spokesperson Melissa Taylor said.

“At this time we’re still in the early stages of this investigation and we’re trying to piece together whether or not there is a connection between the victim and the suspect,” Schepman said.