Suspect in custody after allegedly beating man with baseball bat in Kitsap County

PORT ORCHARD, Wash. — Deputies with the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office told KIRO 7 the suspect in a recent assault was taken into custody on Sunday.

The Sheriff's Office said Michael Cook, 26, severely beat another man with a baseball bat around 7 a.m. Saturday on Higgins Road SE near SE Maple Street in South Kitsap. The two men were reportedly fighting inside a house. Investigators say one of the men was badly beaten.

"He sustained what we consider - and what the medics consider - to be life threatening injuries," said Kitsap County Sheriff's Deputy Scott Wilson.

Deputies had been searching for Cook since Saturday and found him asleep in the bed of a truck parked at the South end of Arnold Avenue around 12:20 p.m. Sunday. An eyewitness recognized Cook from social media and news reports and alerted officials.

"Port Orchard police officers and sheriff's deputies arrived," said Wilson, "and took Mr. Cook into custody without further incident."

Wilson said detectives do not know why the men were fighting or the relationship between Cook and the victim.

"It's one of those things still to be determined," he said.  "We do believe they were acquainted, they knew each other. Don't know the specific relationship if there was anything by marriage or how long they had known each other. That will come out a little bit later."

Cook was booked into the Kitsap County Jail on suspicion of first degree assault and on an unrelated warrant for second degree burglary. He is expected to make his first court appearance at 3 p.m. Monday afternoon.

The victim, Deputy Wilson said, is being treated at a local trauma center. The location is being kept secret for his protection.

Anyone who witnessed the assault is asked to contact Detective Krista Kleinfelder at 360-337-7117 and reference case report K19-003954.

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