Brush Prairie man faces assault charge stemming from stabbing at ilani

A 56-year-old Brush Prairie man faces a first-degree assault charge for allegedly stabbing another man at ilani casino on Sunday.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Monday in the case against John E. Watson, but court records indicate he was in the hospital and not able to appear. The allegations against Watson do not detail anything that may have led to the hospitalization; he told Clark County Jail deputies he needed heart medication when being booked.

Records show he appeared Tuesday, and Judge John Fairgrieve set his bail at $100,000. An arraignment hearing was scheduled for July 16.

Cowlitz Indian Tribal Public Safety Department officers responded to the casino shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday after a security officer called 911 to report a stabbing, according to a probable cause affidavit. The officers found Watson sitting on a bench at the valet entrance.

The officers identified the victim as 46-year-old Clayton N. Moore.

Watson told the officers that he confronted Moore and “had an argument,” the affidavit says.

Moore said a man approached him and was arguing, and then stabbed him, according to the affidavit. An officer noted that Moore was bleeding from a small puncture wound on the left side of his body.

Officers reviewed video surveillance from the casino that showed Watson push Moore before grabbing him by the throat. Moore defended himself by hitting Watson in the face, according to the affidavit, prompting Watson to remove a knife from his jacket pocket and stab Moore.