A Bellingham man was arrested Sunday, June 24, after allegedly breaking into his ex-girlfriend's home and stabbing her multiple times, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.
Deputies responded to a home in the 100 block of East Smith Road at about 8 a.m., where Warren Willis, 30, had allegedly forced his way in and assaulted his ex-girlfriend. She had moved to the home to get away from Willis and didn't think he knew where she lived, according to the Sheriff's Office.
Willis allegedly pulled the woman's hair, repeatedly punched her, attempted to strangle her, slammed her face into a kitchen counter and stabbed her multiple times. He told her that he was going to kill her.
The woman's current boyfriend and a female friend told deputies they saw Willis straddling the woman and stabbing and punching her. They tried to stop him by hitting him with potted plants and pots and pans, and using a Taser. As they tried to help, Willis allegedly tried to assault them as well, attempting to stab the current boyfriend.
The assault finally stopped when Willis was hit in the head with a pan. Sheriff Bill Elfo said that if the two hadn't intervened, Willis might have killed the woman.
The woman was taken to St. Joseph hospital with stab wounds, a broken nose and bruising and swelling to her face and neck. She was released from the hospital Sunday night. Her name hasn't been released.
Willis also was taken to the hospital for injuries he received during the assault, then was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of first-degree burglary, harassment, third-degree malicious mischief, fourth-degree assault and two counts of first-degree assault.
Willis has a history of arrests and convictions for domestic violence crimes in Washington, Texas and Georgia.
Reach Zoe Fraley at zoe.fraley@bellinghamherald.com or call 360-756-2803.
Reach ZOE FRALEY atzoe.fraley@bellinghamherald.com or call 756-2803.
