This is related to the stabbing incident that occurred at the Astoria Warming Center on February 3, 2023, in which Dwayne Blair was arrested.

On February 5, 2023, Astoria Police were dispatched to the Astoria Warming Center located at 1076 Franklin Avenue in reference to an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) inside the building.  The caller told dispatch that an employee had dismantled the device, but they were concerned because the staff was reluctant to notify the Police Department.

On February 3, 2022, Dwayne Douglas Blair, 58, threw the IED in the direction of a warming center employee, and it landed several feet in front of him and rolled to a stop at his feet.  The employee placed the device in a desk drawer for safekeeping when he was pulled away to deal with the stabbing in which Blair was arrested.  Another employee with military experience examined the device on February 4^th, identified it as an IED, and dismantled it. It was then placed back in the drawer until Astoria Police recovered it on February 5^th.  The IED was a shotgun shell encased in a plastic container wrapped in tape multiple times. There was a sharp pointed end that appeared to be able to detonate the shell.

Officers Hansen and Carrera quickly located Blair and arrested him for Attempted Murder II, Attempted Assault I, and Unlawful Possession of a Destructive Device.  He was transported to the Clatsop County Jail, where he is currently being held.

Astoria Police Officers responded to the Astoria Warming Center located at 1076 Franklin Avenue on February 3, 2023, at 9:15 P.M., after receiving a 911 call reporting a stabbing inside.  Officers found a single victim suffering from multiple stab wounds to his back and arm and identified 58-year-old Dwayne Douglas Blair as the suspect.  He was arrested at the scene for Assault II, Unlawful Use of a Weapon, Assault IV, Attempted Assault on a Public Safety Officer, and Resisting Arrest.

The investigation shows that Blair was recently evicted from his residence and had been staying at the Warming Center. He got into a verbal altercation with a staff member over established rules while checking in and stabbed the employee.  Officers arrived and immediately rendered aid to the victim and escorted him outside so that the Astoria Fire Department could tend to his injuries.  Additional fire personnel was called inside to care for Blair, who was incoherent and had a laceration on his arm. Blair assaulted one of our police officers as they were attempting to render aid.  Blair was restrained and transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital to be medically cleared before being transported to the Jail.

Blair was released from the Clatsop County Jail through their electronic monitoring program while officers were still at the jail.  Astoria Police Personnel worked with Columbia Memorial Staff to ensure that Blair located a place to stay that allowed him to continue his medical regime without violating the conditions of his release.

Update: Labonte was taken into custody at the Seaside Warming Center.

The Astoria Police Department received a call from a concerned citizen on February 1, 2023, informing us that 35-year-old Jericho Labonte had posted a video of himself on Facebook placing a dead fish on the front porch of the Goonies’ house.  On February 3, 2023, we received a call from Port Security Chief Matt Hansen informing us that the vessel involved in the Coast Guard rescue earlier in the day was stolen from the Port of Astoria.  He recognized the vessel on the video, contacted the owner, and confirmed that it had been stolen.  At about the same time, we received calls from several citizens identifying the rescued victim as Labonte.  He had been transported to Columbia Memorial Hospital after the rescue as a precaution and was discharged before being identified as the suspect.

Jericho Labonte is wanted on charges of Theft I, Endangering another Person, Unauthorized Use of a Vehicle, and Criminal Mischief II. Please contact the Astoria Police Department at 503-325-4411 if you see Labonte.  He was last seen wearing a dark beanie-style hat, gray sweatshirt, and dark pants.