Panhandler faces trial after alleged knife incident at Port Angeles Safeway

PORT ANGELES — A man from Colorado described in court papers as homeless faces an Aug. 25 trial on a charge of assault for allegedly pulling an unopened folding knife on another man outside the east Port Angeles Safeway earlier this month.

The blade was not exposed, deputies said in court papers.

Daniel James Jackson, 61, of Greeley, Colo., pleaded not guilty July 18 to one count of second-degree assault with a deadly weapon against Derek Bishop of Texas, according to Clallam County Superior Court documents.

Jackson remained in the Clallam County jail Sunday on $5,000 bail. A status hearing is set for Friday.

Clallam County Sheriff’s deputies provided this account:

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Bishop and his wife, Linda, had stopped for lunch at the Safeway store at 2709 E. U.S. Highway 101 at about 12:45 p.m. July 7 with his father-in-law, Robert Gilbert of Bremerton, on their way to Hurricane Ridge.

The three were leaving the store when Jackson “aggressively approached them” and asked for money.

Gilbert offered Jackson food, which Jackson refused.

All three continued past Jackson to their car.

Bishop and Gilbert returned to the store for napkins. When Bishop came back out of the store, he was again approached by Jackson.

Bishop again told Jackson he did not have any money and turned to walk away when he saw Jackson pull out a black-handled folding knife from his pocket.

As Jackson came toward Bishop, Gilbert, who was leaving the Safeway, struck Jackson from behind and knocked him to the ground.

Jackson was taken to Olympic Medical Center with face and head injuries. He was later discharged.

In an interview in the emergency room, Jackson told Deputy William Cortani Jr. he did not have to talk to him and that the others pulled a knife on him.

Jackson then told the deputy that the knife might have fallen out of his pocket when he fell.

A test of Jackson’s blood showed his blood-alcohol level was 0.17, Cortani wrote.

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Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.

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