An 11-year-old boy stabbed his dad in the chest on Wednesday night, alleging repeated abuse by the man, according to a police report.

The stabbing occurred between 8 and 9 p.m. in the 2100 block of Londin Lane in St. Paul. The man, who was not identified in the report, sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.

"It breaks my heart to think a kid has to be pushed to that point," witness Ruth Veldaz said. "To be 11 years old and to stab your father, he had to be at the brink of desperate."

Veldaz was at her daughter's home when about half a dozen police cars rushed to the duplex next door. The man walked out on his own sporting a large bandage on his upper chest, Veldaz said. The boy walked out next, his hands handcuffed behind him and a woman following behind, she said.

"I thought, 'My God, what happened?' " Veldaz said.

The boy was put in the back of a squad car as an ambulance took his father to Regions Hospital. He was stabbed with a knife, according to police.

"I wouldn't classify it as a serious puncture wound, but it certainly is a puncture wound," police spokesman Howie Padilla said.

Police declined to say what may have led up to the stabbing, citing the ongoing investigation.

A second ambulance arrived and took the boy to Children's Hospital. He was later placed with child protection, Padilla said.

The boy had multiple bruises and scratches to his face, head and throat, according to the police report. He told police his father repeatedly abused him, allegations that are being investigated along with the stabbing.

The allegations of abuse shocked Veldaz, who worked with special-needs children for decades.

"He was a huge man," she said of the father.

The man was a little over 6 feet tall and more than 200 pounds, she said. His son was slight and less than 5-feet tall. Veldaz said she's heard yelling coming from the duplex, but police said there have been no calls to the address that are "relevant" to the current incident.

Neighbor Gary Hammond said he had never seen the boy. The man and a woman moved into the rental property within the last year or two, he said. The couple bought several items at two of Hammond's garage sales.

"I'm surprised, because they sure seemed nice to me," Hammond said. "It blows my mind."

No arrests have been made in the stabbing or alleged abuse.

Chao Xiong • 612-270-4708 Twitter: @ChaoStrib