A Birch Bay resident was assaulted with a knife in their own home Tuesday night, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
At around 7 p.m. Tuesday, deputies responded to a report of an assault with a knife in the 8,000 block of Harborview Road in Birch Bay, according to a Sheriff’s Office Facebook post.
The suspect, 34-year-old Joshua Hayward from Blaine, allegedly attempted to gain entrance to the victim’s house through windows and eventually forced his way through a locked screen door.
Once inside, Hayward punched the victim in the head and began to make his way to the victim’s bedroom. The victim followed Hayward to the bedroom where they were then struck in the head and face numerous times. The victim was also hit with a safe.
Hayward then allegedly took the victim’s medication from the safe and headed to the living room with the victim following him.
The victim grabbed a nearby knife for protection as they attempted to get their medication back from Hayward.
A struggle ensued during which Hayward allegedly cut the victim’s forearm with the knife. Hayward then fled the scene on foot before deputies arrived, but he was soon reported walking on Harborview Road covered in blood.
A K9 unit was deployed and soon after Hayward was located hiding in the woods. He was taken into custody without incident and a bottle of the medication belonging to the victim was found in his backpack. Hayward was transported and booked in Whatcom County Jail.
