BELLINGHAM, Wash. – A convicted felon is back behind bars after assaulting a stranger with brass knuckles in downtown Bellingham.
Court documents state that three people left the Wild Buffalo in the early hours of April 20th when they were approached by a stranger offering to sell them various items.
One of the people eventually accepted the stranger’s offer to purchase his bike, and had just started to walk away with the bike when the stranger demanded it back.
The person refused to return it until the stranger, 25-year-old Eli Atiles, gave them their money back.
Atiles attempted to yank the person off the bike, at which point the other people they were with intervened.
Atiles fought back with brass knuckles, striking another person in the head and face.
Officers were able to take him into custody shortly after the attack.
Investigators determined that Atiles was high on fentanyl during the incident.
Atiles has a long criminal history of assaults and thefts.
He remains behind bars on $75,000 bail.