EVERETT — Police have arrested a man down by the Everett Gospel Mission who allegedly attacked two people from a church group as they were handing out food to transients in the area.
Thomas Wenger, 46, also allegedly pushed a third man to the ground and waved a knife in his face before being arrested by Everett police officers.
For months, business owners and neighbors near the men’s shelter have complained to police about increasing crime. Everett police have stepped up patrols down there. Officers also are teamed up with a county social worker to offer services to those in need.
Last week, officers stopped nearly four dozen people along Smith Avenue and arrested six people for drug offenses, according to a city press release. The majority of the people who were approached by officers and the social worker declined services, police said.
Wenger was arrested Thursday and booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of second-degree assault.
Wenger allegedly pushed a man to the ground and repeatedly swung a knife at his face. The man said the attack was unprovoked. He ran from the area but returned after seeing police officers drive up.
Officers were responding to reports of additional assaults. A man said he was with his church group handing out food and other essentials to people. Wenger allegedly punched one man in the face after the man offered Wenger some food.
The man’s friend also was assaulted. He told police he was helping his friend up when Wenger swung a knife at him.
“He believed, ‘today might be my last day on earth,’ ” Everett police officer Andrew McLauchlan wrote in an affidavit.
The witnesses described Wenger to police, saying he was riding a white bicycle and wearing a black backpack. Officers found him at the corner of 38th Street and Smith Avenue. He allegedly had an 11-inch knife in his pants. Officers found a drug pipe in his backpack.
In this week’s update about the Safe Streets plan, Everett Police Chief Dan Templeman encouraged people who want to help the homeless to donate to local groups providing services to the homeless, such as Catholic Community Services and Volunteers of America.
He said well-intentioned groups and individuals dropping off food and other items are contributing to a garbage problem affecting nearby businesses. The city’s public work crews clean up Smith Avenue at least twice a week. The crews have removed dump-truck loads of trash.
“We’ve also learned from our conversations with those on the streets that these direct donations can decrease their motivation to seek services and treatment,” Templeman said.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.
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