UPDATE: Bellingham police arrest man suspected of stabbing another near downtown business
Bellingham Police have arrested a transient man suspected of stabbing another in the stomach outside a downtown business Wednesday afternoon. The 31-year-old victim was taken to the hospital with injuries suffered in the reported attack.
Christian Ryan Sacksteder, 22, was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of first-degree assault and intimidating a witness.
The Bellingham Police and Fire departments were called at approximately 12:23 p.m. to the report the stabbing, which occurred near Wonderland Herbs, Teas and Spices in the 1300 block of Railroad Avenue, according to unconfirmed emergency radio broadcasts at the time.
Information given to officers as they were en route was that a man had stabbed the victim in the stomach and still had the knife in his possession as he was walked along Railroad Avenue toward the Bellingham Farmer’s Market, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
Sacksteder was found in the area of Chestnut Street and Railroad Avenue, Murphy reported, and when he saw police cars approaching he threw the knife on the ground.
Officers gave Sacksteder direction to get onto the ground, which he did, and he was arrested, according to Murphy.
The victim was taken to the hospital for treatment, Murphy reported, and the incident remains under investigation.
This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 12:46 PM.
