Bend assault suspect caught, arrested near Shaniko

Bend police said Thursday night a wanted 32-year-old transient has been found and arrested, accused of slashing a woman with a switchblade knife as they argued in a car while traveling in the southeast part of the city Thursday morning.

Bend police detectives, assisted by Oregon State Police, found Carl Philip Gavic and the car he was driving at a rest area on Highway 97 near Shaniko, northeast of Madras, said Lt. Clint Burleigh.

Gavic was stopped shortly after leaving the rest area, just after 6 p.m., and taken into custody without incident.

He was taken to the Deschutes County Jail and lodged on charges of second-degree assault, first-degree robbery and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, as well as unlawful use of a weapon and felon in possession of a weapon. His bail totaled $125,000.

The 33-year-old female transient, whose name was not released, received several non-life-threatening cuts during the assault and was taken to St. Charles Bend for treatment, Burleigh said.

Gavic left the scene of the incident, which happened around 7:40 a.m. in the area of Murphy and Brosterhous roads, Burleigh said.

Gavic allegedly pulled out the knife and attacked the woman during a dispute “over property,” the lieutenant said, adding that “Gavic threatened to harm the victim further and harm their dog prior to leaving the scene.”

Gavic was described as 5-foot-10 and 150 pounds, with short brown hair and brown eyes, long sideburns and several tattoos. He had last been seen wearing a black T-shirt under a red-gray checkered flannel shirt, blue jeans and black shoes.

The suspect’s vehicle was described as a light blue 2001 Subaru Impreza hatchback, with unknown California license plates.

Before his arrest, police urged anyone who saw Gavic or the vehicle to “not approach and call 911.”