A homeless man appeared Friday in Clark County Superior Court in connection with a stabbing last week outside of downtown Vancouver’s Share House homeless shelter.
Jacob Barraza, 32, of Vancouver is scheduled to be arraigned Sept. 10 on a charge of first-degree assault.
Judge John Nichols held Barraza in lieu of $100,000 bail Friday and appointed Vancouver attorney Megan Peyton to defend him.
Vancouver police responded just after 6 p.m. Aug. 22 to a report of an assault with a weapon outside the homeless shelter at 1115 W. 13th St.
They found Christopher Hendrix, age unknown, bleeding from a minor stab wound on the left side of his face and jaw. He refused transport to the hospital but was treated on scene by medics with Vancouver Fire Department and American Medical Response.
Hendrix said he was outside of the Share House with friends when he saw Barraza assaulting a female, according to court documents. Hendrix apparently challenged Barraza to hit him instead.
“Give me your best shot,” Hendrix said, according to a court documents.
Barraza responded by striking Hendrix on the left side of his face with what appeared to be a closed fist, court documents say. Hendrix’s face began to bleed, and he noticed that Barraza was actually gripping a three-inch knife in his right hand, court documents say.
A witness saw Barraza assault Hendrix but couldn’t see whether he was holding a knife in his right hand, police said.
Barraza had left the scene by the time officers arrive, but police were able to find him inside Share House, where he was eating a meal, court documents say.
Police were unable to find the female who allegedly was assaulted.
