BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham Police were dispatched to a report of an assault with a weapon in the 4300 block of Meridian Street about 5:40pm today, Tuesday, July 19th.
Bellingham Police Department (BPD) Spokesperson Lieutenant Claudia Murphy told Whatcom News officers arrived to find the victim inside a retail business. The victim had been physically assaulted by a person who tried to choke and also unsuccessfully attempted to stab them with a knife.
Witnesses provided officers with a detailed description of the suspect and the direction he fled after leaving the business.
BPD officers located a person wearing different clothing but matching the suspect’s description inside a nearby business and determined it was the same person by a photograph. The knife was not located.
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Click for more informationSteven Jerry Retasket, age 33, of Mukilteo, was arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail charged with suspicion of 1st degree assault.
As of 8pm, Retasket remained in custody without bail while awaiting a preliminary appearance in Whatcom County Superior Court.
Retasket has prior felony convictions for 2nd degree assault, harassment, 3rd degree rape and unlawful imprisonment.
This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.
Mukilteo?! We k how why he is in Bellingham dont we?!?! The guy who shot at all those people Saturday night downtown was from Mt Vernon or somewhere down south. The thugs are all migrating North because they make it easy here to do crime and not do a any time. Whatcon is changing so quickly and all for the worse
Well said Carrie
Bellingham motto- soft on crime and you’ll do no time.