Submitted by Fox First at Ten on December 30th
SPOKANE, Wash. - Spokane Police arrested a man they say robbed and attacked a woman with an axe, which left her with substantial injuries. Police arrested Greggory Pruett for assault and other charges after investigators said he attacked a woman in an alley just south of Napa St. and 1st Avenue on Sunday morning.
In his first court appearance Monday, a judge ordered Pruett to be held in jail on $100,000 bond.
Neighbors said the woman was walking around 1st and Crestline around 5 am Sunday at the same time as Greggory Pruett, who police said was prowling in the area.
At least one neighbor said Pruett "got friendly" with the victim and dragged her into a nearby garage. At that point, Police said Pruett struck the woman with an axe in her head, arm and mouth. She lost several of her teeth and was badly bleeding but is expected to survive. It was unclear if she was struck with the blade or the handle, or both.
Detectives believe this was a random attack since the victim did not know Pruett.
The woman managed to get away from Pruett and ran to a nearby home where she frantically began ringing a stranger's doorbell for help. A couple inside the home took her in and safely held her there until police arrived. That couple said the woman was completely covered in blood and was fading in and out of consciousness. The woman also told the couple she was in the area because she was collecting cans.
Neighbors said they are shocked by what happened.
"It's horrible in my neighborhood. I live here, I have a four-and-a-half year old daughter," neighbor Jesse Wickstrom said.
Earlier year, Pruett was convicted of fourth degree assault with a deadly weapon. Court records show he struck a man in the face with a metal bar as the man slept. That person suffered substantial injuries to his eye. In that instance, police also found that Pruett had a small baggie of methamphetamine.
Major Crimes detectives are investigating this attack.
If you have any information, call Crime Check at 456-2233.
