PORT TOWNSEND — A Chimacum man remained in the Jefferson County jail Tuesday after police said he pointed a BB gun at a Port Hadlock man and cut him on the hand and throat with a knife, Port Townsend police said.
Dean Carmen Short, 26, was booked at 7:16 a.m. Monday for investigation of first-degree assault and first-degree robbery. Bond was set at $75,000.
The alleged assault occurred in the parking lot of the Kearney Street Apartments, 809 Gaines St., early Monday morning, police said.
Corey Spaulding, 29, was treated and discharged from Jefferson Healthcare hospital, police said.
Police gave this account:
Spaulding was picking up a friend when Short accused him of owing him money for a watch.
A verbal argument escalated into a fight in which Short allegedly pointed a replica firearm at Spaulding.
“The victim stated he was able to take away the firearm and realized it was a replica,” police said in a Tuesday news release.
“During the struggle, the victim was cut severely on his hand and had a minor cut to the side of his throat.”
Spaulding walked into the Jefferson Healthcare emergency room with knife wounds at about 4 a.m.
He received stitches on his hand and was discharged from the hospital before a police interview, Officer Patrick Fudally said.
Safety markings that showed the weapon as being a BB gun had been removed, police said.
Spaulding initially told police he was sitting inside his vehicle on the 200 block of Thomas Street when the assault occurred.
Police said they identified Short as a suspect after receiving inconsistent statements from Spaulding and a witness.
“He basically just said he didn’t know if he wanted to get [Short] in trouble,” Fudally said.
“He was surprised that the ER called us.”
Short was located and arrested with the assistance of the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Fudally said.
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
