BELLINGHAM - Police have arrested a suspect in an attack last week on a Bellingham man, who said he went almost 12 hours before realizing he'd been stabbed while walking downtown.

The victim, 43, told a detective he was walking in the 300 block of West Holly Street at 3 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, when a man attacked him from behind. Somebody in a nearby apartment yelled at them, so the suspect ran off, said Bellingham police spokesman Mark Young.

The victim recognized the attacker. Young would not disclose how the men knew each other, only saying the assault "was not random."

Hours later, the victim started having medical problems. He admitted himself to St. Joseph hospital at 3:30 p.m.

On Friday afternoon police arrested Robert Wallace Craker Jr., 40, at an apartment in the 2500 block of E Street.

As of Monday the case was still under investigation. Young declined to say what kind of knife was used, whether a weapon was recovered, the number of stab wounds or where the wounds were on the man's body.

Alcohol and drugs were not mentioned in a police report.

Reach CALEB HUTTON at caleb.hutton@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2276.