Ferndale man stabs another in shoulder, then flees and climbs 40 feet in tree
A Ferndale man is suspected of stabbing a man he knew in the shoulder Saturday morning while they were on their way to the Silver Reef Casino then was found a few hours later after having climbed 40 feet in a tree.
The 40-year-old victim was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery and was released the next day, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Deb Slater told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
Brandon Michael Allen, 26, was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault, and jail records show he is being held in lieu of $150,000.
Sheriff’s deputies and the Lummi Nation Police Department responded at 7 a.m. July 11 to the report of a stabbing in the 4800 block of Haxton Way near the casino, Slater reported, where they found the victim.
The victim and his friend told police they were driving from Bellingham to the Silver Reef Casino with Allen, when Allen suddenly stabbed the victim with a large “Bowie-style” knife and ran away, Slater wrote.
Deputies and officers from the Lummi and Ferndale police departments searched for Allen for several hours, Slater reported, and deputies spoke on the phone to Allen, who admitted to being paranoid, considering suicide and having used a large amount of methamphetamine earlier in the morning.
At approximately 9:30 a.m., with the help of K9 Hyde and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter, deputies were able to locate Allen approximately 40 feet up in a tree in the 2900 block of Lampman Road, Slater reported. Allen climbed down from the tree and was taken into custody.
Resources
Lt. Claudia Murphy of the Bellingham Police Department recommends if people in the United States find themselves or a friend in crisis or emotional distress that they call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at any time at 800-273-TALK (8255). For more information about the Lifeline, visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
