A Washougal woman who slashed a Vancouver police officer’s face with a steak knife as he was detaining her was sentenced Thursday to more than three years in prison.
Mariah C. Dickison, 27, pleaded guilty in Clark County Superior Court to second-degree assault with a deadly weapon in the July 31 incident.
She originally faced first-degree assault, but the charge was amended as part of a plea agreement. The agreement required Dickison to stipulate to a sentence longer than the standard sentencing range of 27 to 32 months.
The judge followed the parties’ recommendation and sentenced Dickison to 40 months, which includes a 12-month deadly weapon enhancement.
Shortly before 10 p.m., Vancouver police were called to an assault at the Royal Plains Apartments, 4517 N.E. Plains Way. Someone flagged down the arriving officers and pointed in the direction of Dickison, who was carrying a large metal sign that she pulled out of the ground, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
When she saw the officers, she turned and ran. The officers chased her about 200 meters and then deployed a Taser to try to stop her, but it had no effect, the affidavit said.
Dickison tripped and fell. The officers tried to grab her arms, but she was swinging them wildly and hit Officer Matthew Hoover in the face. He later realized he had been stabbed on the left side of his face, court records state.
As they attempted to handcuff Dickison, the officers noticed a large steak knife in her left hand. She continued trying to stab them but was restrained after a brief struggle, according to court documents.
Hoover was treated at a local hospital for a minor injury and released.
As part of her sentence, Dickison will have to undergo an evaluation and treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues. She will also serve 18 months of community custody.
