FERNDALE - Deputies are looking for a man whose road rage led him to beat a jogger so viciously his face will need surgery, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.
Gavin J. Haggith, 30, was driving beige Ford Taurus about 7:20 p.m. Thursday, July 12, in the 2200 block of Brown Road, north of Ferndale, when he swerved at a jogger, said Sheriff Bill Elfo. The jogger had to jump into nearby bushes to avoid getting hit. He yelled at the driver.
Haggith got out of the car, charged and attacked the 42-year-old man, Elfo said. The jogger suffered injuries to his face that will require surgery. He was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph hospital.
Haggith has since spoken with law enforcement by phone.
"We've communicated with him and he's not cooperating," Elfo said. "We can't get him to come in voluntarily."
Deputies later found the car at a home on Brown Road. They believe Haggith may have switched to a black Mitsubishi Eclipse with the license plate 189-YSO.
In 2009, Haggith was sentenced to three years in prison for a robbery at a Bellingham Smoking Sam's. He grabbed a wad of $10 bills before the cashier slammed his hand in the register. He was accused of using a knife in the robbery, but the state Court of Appeals later dropped the deadly weapon enhancement.
At the time of the robbery, he was living in the 3700 block of Brown Road. Elfo said he believes Haggith still lives in the Ferndale area, but wasn't sure exactly where.
The suspect's criminal history also includes cocaine possession, theft and malicious mischief. He's now wanted for assault in the first and second degrees.
Anyone with information about Haggith's whereabouts should call 911. He's 6-foot-1, weighs 185 pounds and has long brown hair.
Reach Caleb Hutton at caleb.hutton@bellinghamherald.com or call 360-715-2276.
