BLAINE, Wash. — First responders were dispatched to the 8000 block of Harborview Road Tuesday, April 12th, about 7:35pm due to a report of an assault with a weapon.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) Spokesperson Deb Slater told Whatcom News via email that WCSO deputies arrived to learn there had been an assault using a knife and the suspected assailant had fled and was reportedly covered in blood.
Deputies located the victim who had a cut to their forearm. The victim told deputies the suspect had unsuccessfully attempted to enter the victim’s residence via windows and then forced entry via a locked screen door.
The victim told deputies they were punched in the head by the suspect and then the suspect went into a room to go through the victim’s property. The suspect reportedly continued to punch the victim and used a safe to strike the victim.
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Click for more informationThe suspect reportedly took items from the safe, put them into a backpack and then went to another room. The victim picked up a knife for protection and struggled with the suspect in an attempt to recover the taken items. The suspect took the knife from the victim and the victim suffered the forearm cut.
The suspect then fled the residence on foot.
According to emergency radio transmissions at the time, law enforcement personnel from multiple agencies, including a helicopter from US Customs and Border Protection and K-9 units, responded to conduct a search for a suspect.
Slater said a WCSO K-9 unit initiated a track, and the suspect was located hiding in nearby woods and taken into custody without incident. The items reported to have been taken from the safe were located in a backpack in his possession.
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Click for more informationLaw enforcement reported by radio they had a suspect detained near Forsberg and Harborview Roads about 8:10pm.
Joshua James Hayward, age 34, was arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office shortly after 10pm. He was charged with suspicion of the following crimes.
- Violation of a domestic violence protection order
- 2nd degree assault (DV)
- 4th degree assault (DV)
- 1st degree burglary
- 1st degree robbery
- warrants out of Whatcom County District Court
- reckless driving ($10,000 cash bail)
- driving under the influence
- failure to appear in court on a charge of 3rd degree malicious mischief
Hayward is expected to make a preliminary appearance in Whatcom County Superior Court Wednesday, when bail will be set regarding the latest charges.
Hayward was the respondent on an active no contact order (DV) with the victim as the petitioner according to Slater.
According to Whatcom County Superior Court records, Hayward was out of custody after posting a $500 cash bail while awaiting trial for 2nd degree assault with substantial bodily harm and 1st degree criminal impersonation. In that case, Hayward is suspected of having attacked the same victim in November of 2021. That attack resulted in the victim being treated for an arm fracture.
This story was updated at 9:45am on April 13th with information provided by the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
With his record and another violent attack why is he being allowed bail? This is why criminals don’t care about being arrested. Just a timeout before resuming their activities.