Police investigate rumble, stabbing

According to Police Chief Bruce Brending, a number of juveniles were involved.

"Before officers arrived, police dispatchers from the 9-1-1 communications center advised that one of the groups had left in a vehicle," Brending explained. "A deputy from the Klickitat County Sheriffs Office located the vehicle, and it was stopped by the deputy and Bingen-White Salmon Police."

An officer at the scene of the vehicle stop reported that one of the five occupants of the stopped car, a blue Ford Explorer, had two stab wounds, and the victim was having trouble breathing.

As an ambulance was called, another Bingen-White Salmon police officer went to the scene of the Spring Street fight and, with assistance from a KCSO deputy, located several other juveniles involved in the fight.

Law enforcement officials reported that one local juvenile, 15 years old, was arrested and charged with assault in the first degree. He was processed at the Klickitat County Jail in Goldendale, then transported and lodged in the NORCOR Juvenile facility.

The stabbed 17-year-old juvenile, reportedly from The Dalles area, was transported to Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital by Skyline Ambulance.

"The extent of his injuries did not appear to be life threatening," Brending said.

The cause of the altercation remains under investigation.

Brending said he has noticed an uptick in criminal activity in the community lately.

"The very real increase in criminal activity is demonstrated by the rash of residential burglaries -- the most recent reported on Feb. 15 -- and now this assault where a juvenile was stabbed," he said.

Brending pointed out that he is concerned with a reduction in the Police Department's resources during a time of growing crime.

"I am concerned with the possible intent to reduce police coverage in the name of reducing overtime or the overall police budget," Brending explained. "The Police Department is 25 percent understaffed in the number of uniformed patrol officers due to cuts made over the last few years."

Brending added that the Bingen-White Salmon Police Department is requesting the public's help in catching the person or persons committing these burglaries.

"If you have information or see suspicious activity, please call 9-1-1 or 493-1177, or leave us an e-mail at info@bwspolice.com," Brending said.