TACOMA, Wash. — Pierce County Sheriff’s deputies are looking for a man who attacked and stabbed a neighbor July 14, because he thought the neighbor was a police officer.
Derrell Saulsberry, 40, was charged Wednesday with first-degree assault, second-degree assault, as well as intimidation of a witness. Officials said he has a long and violent history of targeting first responders without provocation.
"He’s assaulted police officers in other states, he’s assaulted firefighters, got convictions for kidnapping, felony eluding, and this is somebody who’s very violent and very dangerous," Pierce County Sheriff’s Detective Ed Troyer said.
According to details in a probable cause affidavit, Saulsberry confronted the man at the Woodmark Apartments North in Parkland and asked him if he was a cop.
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The man told Saulsberry "no" but Saulsberry allegedly returned with a knife and started a fight with the victim, then stabbed him in the chest, leaving the man with serious injuries.
After the stabbing, Saulsberry reportedly kidnapped another person in a car, held them at knifepoint and forced the driver to take him to 112th Street in Parkland.
Troyer said that was the last time anyone has seen Saulsberry, and he is considered very dangerous.
It is not clear where Saulsberry went after the assault and it is not known if he is still in Washington state, investigators said.
Officials said Saulsberry is from Texas and has criminal records in several states for violent offenses.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for information leading to Saulsberry’s arrest and investigators are warning the public to not approach him because he is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on Saulsberry's location is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.
Cox Media Group
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