A Blaine man was arrested Tuesday, Aug. 20 on probable cause of attempted murder after he dropped a woman off at a local hospital with extensive injuries.
Bellingham Police arrived at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center around 3:40 a.m. Tuesday in response to a disturbance, according to Steve Harris, the Whatcom County Undersheriff.
Hospital security personnel were attempting to detain the suspect after he had tried to leave, according to a press release from Deb Slater, the public information officer for the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect admitted to police that he had consumed drugs and alcohol and he was arrested for DUI.
The suspect told police that he had assaulted the victim in an attempt to kill them at a residence in Blaine, according to Slater. The suspect said he “had a change of heart” and drove the victim to the hospital.
The adult victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment of her injuries, Harris said.
The victim sustained multiple facial fractures, a broken left elbow, broken ribs on both sides and lacerations and scrapes on the arms, according to Slater.
Whatcom County sheriff’s deputies went to the residence to see if anyone else was there, he said. They saw what appeared to be blood and other evidence in an open detached garage.
After being granted a search warrant, deputies found additional evidence and firearms, including a gun safe with two firearms, Harris said.
The suspect has a prior felony conviction and is not allowed to have firearms, according to Slater.
The 41-year-old man was arrested on probable cause of attempted murder and two counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. He was booked into the Whatcom County Jail around 6:30 a.m.
His initial appearance is scheduled for Wednesday, Aug. 21.
This story was updated with more information at 4:20 p.m. on Aug. 21 from a press release issued by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
