BELLINGHAM - A man suspected of violently beating a Ferndale jogger showed up at Whatcom County Jail early Monday, July 16, to turn himself in.
Gavin J. Haggith, 30, was booked on investigation of first- and second-degree assault after he showed up to the jail just after midnight, said Whatcom County Sheriff's Sgt. Larry Flynn.
Haggith was driving a 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. He described the swerving as intentional and a random act of violence.
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 required surgery. He was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph hospital.
Law enforcement had tried speaking with Haggith by phone to get him to turn himself in, but initially he didn't cooperate.
Deputies later found the car at a home on Brown Road. They believed Haggith may have switched vehicles at that time.
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.
Haggith's criminal history also includes cocaine possession, theft and malicious mischief.
Reach CALEB HUTTON at caleb.hutton@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2276.
Reach SAMANTHA WOHLFEIL at samantha.wohlfeil@bellinghamherald.com or 360-756-2883.
