TULALIP — A Marysville man is facing a felony assault charge after allegedly pulling a knife on a bystander during a shoplifting excursion.
The incident happened outside the Walmart on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Prosecutors allege that Edward E. Larson was caught shoplifting by a store security guard. The woman tried to get Larson to return to the store with the loot. He pushed her on his way out of the store and broke into a run.
A shopper was parking his car when he saw another man pointing at the fleeing Larson. “Deducing that the defendant was a thief, (the bystander) yelled at him, ‘Drop it. It is not worth it,’” Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Cindy Larsen wrote in court papers.
The bystander gave chase. He told police he heard a click as Larson turned around. The man reportedly was holding a knife with a 4-inch blade.
“Is this how it’s going to be?” the bystander asked.
Larson walked off, but the bystander continued to follow him, telling the suspect to stop.
Larson, tired of being shadowed, reportedly rushed at the bystander with the knife. The man said the suspect attempted to stab him. He stumbled backward, spraining his ankle.
By this time, other witnesses were watching Larson’s moves. They reported seeing him dump something in a trash bin before running toward a nearby gas station. Two women in separate cars followed him and saw him hiding in some trees.
That’s where police arrested him.
Officers found two black-handled knives in the trash bin. They also found the $144.95 worth of stolen merchandise on Larson when he was arrested.
Prosecutors charged Larson with second-degree assault with a weapon. He pleaded not guilty and was being held on $10,000 bail. Larson also is facing separate burglary and lottery fraud charges.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com.
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