MAPLE FALLS, Wash. — Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the 8300 block of Golden Valley Drive in Maple Falls about 10:30am on Saturday, June 11th, due to a report of a physical domestic violence incident.
According to a probable cause statement prepared by WCSO and submitted in Whatcom County Superior Court by prosecutors, the deputies’ investigation revealed Edgar Asencio had struck a family member on her face and another on her leg. Following the assaults, he attempted to burn down his residence and had poured gas on the floor of the attic to help in that effort.
According to the affidavit, Whatcom County Fire District 14 Fire Chief Jerry DeBruin located 2 half-full 1-gallon gas cans in the attic, spaced apart with gas poured on the floor between them.
Asencio reportedly told deputies he had tried to burn down the house, expecting to die in the fire and it was up to his family members to get out safely.
Click for more information
Click for more informationAsencio fought with deputies as they took him into custody, striking 1 deputy in the face and pushing another. He was holding a lighter at the time.
Asencio was arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail. He faces charges with suspicion of 1st degree arson, 3rd degree assault, 2 counts of 4th degree assault and resisting arrest in Whatcom County Superior Court. Bail is set at $150,000.
At the time of his arrest, Asencio was out of custody on $500 cash bail while awaiting trial on 2 counts of unlawful firearm possession and reckless endangerment.
Those charges resulted from an incident in April 2021 when WCSO deputies, responding to 911 calls, observed him from a distance as he walked around a large fire yelling and growling. He was seen waving a handgun and randomly firing it in the direction of the fire, the ground and into 2 large woodpiles in the backyard. Less-lethal munitions were used to take him into custody. A rifle and handgun were recovered back at the residence by the bonfire.
Bail was only $500? Ridiculous.
That’s what is wrong with our courts! $500 bale is down right criminal. The judge should be in jail. The bad guy’s can get away with anything in Whatcom county.
What an exasperating headline! ‘OUT ON $500 CASH BAIL AWAITING TRIAL ON OTHER CHARGES” of unlawful firearm possession and reckless endangerment!
I’m glad there are others responding to the outrageousness of this!
I don’t know this guy but I have family all within a block of there.omg, what happened to public safety