PORT TOWNSEND — Both the accused and the alleged victim involved in a Sunday night stabbing in Port Townsend remained in the intensive care unit at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle on Thursday afternoon, Harborview spokeswoman Susan Gregg confirmed.
Ryan N. Rodrigues, 42, of Port Hadlock was arrested in the 8600 block of state Highway 20 late Monday morning, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
Deputies said Rodrigues began stabbing himself after he was told to drop his knife.
They used stun guns to stop the man from inflicting further harm on himself before he was airlifted to Harborview.
A 42-year-old Port Hadlock woman who was reportedly stabbed was said to be conscious when she was airlifted Sunday night.
The incident began Sunday when law enforcement responded to a report of a woman who had been stabbed several times in the neck by a man at Jacob Miller Road and Highway 20 in Port Townsend, the release said.
On Monday morning, sheriff’s deputies and Port Townsend police officers investigated a possible sighting in the 8600 block of state Highway 20 near Seton Road, the release said.
Since Rodrigues was wanted on probable cause for first-degree assault and was armed with a knife, deputies deployed 40mm foam rounds, said to be “less than lethal,” to get him to drop the knife, according to the release.
Those attempts were unsuccessful and Rodrigues began stabbing himself in the neck and throat in an apparent suicide attempt, deputies said.
Law enforcement officers approached Rodrigues, took the knife and provided medical attention until East Jefferson Fire Rescue personnel arrived.
He was then airlifted to Harborview.
The State Patrol was investigating the “less lethal” weapon use, Washington State Patrol spokeswoman Katherine Weatherwax said in a Tuesday email.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at brian.gawley@sound publishing.com.
