BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A 57-year-old man was arrested on charges of assaulting two veterinary employees with a knife after his cat died.
About 8:15 a.m. Thursday, Charles Anthony Smith went to Maplewood Animal Hospital at 2869 West Maplewood Avenue in Bellingham, investigators said.
According to officers, Smith was angry about the death of his cat and blamed veterinarians who had treated his pet.
Investigators said he pulled out a kitchen knife that he had brought with him and tried to stab one of the veterinarians. She was able to get the knife away from Smith and fled to the back of the business.
Police said Smith then pulled out a second kitchen knife and threatened front desk staff before fleeing in his vehicle.
The veterinarian’s hand was cut during the altercation and she was treated at the scene by Bellingham Fire Department medics.
As officers were searching the area for Smith, a 911 call came in 8:26 a.m. from Fountain Veterinary Hospital at 2430 Meridian Street that a man had just walked into the business and, without saying a word, had stabbed an employee.
The description of the attacker matched Smith.
Smith fled from the second clinic in a vehicle that matched the description of the one that drove away from the first stabbing scene.
The victim at the second animal clinic was stabbed in the neck near her trachea. Medics treated her at the scene for a puncture wound that did not appear to be life-threatening.
As officers continued to search for Smith, policed called all of the local businesses that treat animals to warn them to watch for Smith.
At 8:44 a.m., an officer spotted Smith driving his vehicle westbound on East Bakerview Road near James Street Road.
When the officer pulled in behind the vehicle, Smith immediately pulled over to the side of the road and was taken into custody.
Police said Smith told the officer that he was the man they were looking for and that he had been heading to the police station to turn himself in.
Smith was booked into the Whatcom County Jail on two counts of first-degree assault as well as two counts of possessing weapons capable of producing bodily harm.
KIRO
