Man arrested following report of stabbing at north Bellingham residence
A 25-year-old Bellingham man was arrested Tuesday night on suspicion of first-degree assault.
Bellingham Police Department Lt. Claudia Murphy said officers were dispatched to the 4200 block of Jazz Lane at 6:45 p.m. for a reported stabbing. She said the 25-year-old tried to force himself on someone he lived with, but they were able to get away and grab a kitchen knife for protection.
The man briefly passed out, Murphy said, and pulled out a pocketknife and flipped it open when he regained consciousness. The other person ran out the front door, screaming for help, while the man chased them with the pocketknife.
Murphy said they ran toward two people out walking their dog and asked for help, saying that the man was trying to stab them. The man approached the group and stabbed one of the people with the dog, who was unknown to him, in the back of their right shoulder, causing a 1-inch cut. The person who was stabbed was treated at the scene by medics.
After stabbing the stranger, the man fled to his car and drove off, Murphy said. He eventually crashed near Cordata Parkway and West Bakerview Road. While there were no visible injuries from the crash, the man was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center for signs of having consumed controlled substances.
DUI charges have since been dismissed. The man remains in custody on suspicion of first- and fourth-degree assault and felony harassment. Formal charges have not been filed.