Bellingham man accused of spitting on woman, stabbing her companion on New Year’s Day
A man was arrested after allegedly spitting on a woman, and then stabbing the man she was with in Bellingham on Monday.
According to witnesses, Jayden Nicholas Janisch, 22, of Bellingham was walking near the 3200 block of Northwest Avenue at 11:39 a.m. when he spit on the woman, prompting a verbal argument between him and the man. The man raised his fists, and Janisch stabbed him in the chest with a pocket knife before “casually” walking away, Megan Peters with the Bellingham Police Department told The Bellingham Herald.
Multiple witnesses were able to point out Janisch to police, including one who followed him after the stabbing. Janisch was taken into custody without incident shortly after the assault. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault with a knife and fourth-degree assault.
The victim suffered a “significant injury” and was taken to Seattle for treatment, Peters said.
Janish was arrested in November 2021 in Whatcom County on suspicion of malicious harassment (a hate crime) and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence). The malicious harassment charge was dropped, and Janish pleaded guilty to fourth-degree assault.
This story was originally published January 2, 2024 at 4:30 PM.
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