Female Suspect Tries to Impale Victim Neighbor with 2’ Sword/Machete in Apparent Unprovoked Violent Attack
Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a person with a weapon call where reportedly a female suspect attempted to stab her neighbor with a “knife”. The first Deputy arrived in less than three minutes and found the suspect struggling for control of a 2’ sword/machete with the injured victim. The suspect was safely detained and later arrested for felony assault with a weapon. Thankfully, the victim only received a minor injury to his hand when he blocked the suspect’s attempt to stab him in the abdomen during this potentially deadly and seemingly unprovoked attack.
On December 20, 2024, at approximately 7:50 am, Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a person with a weapon call in the 200 block of S. Adams Road in Spokane Valley. The caller reported an adult male victim, injured and bleeding, was attacked by a female neighbor who was armed with a knife.
The first Deputy arrived within minutes. Due to the violent nature of the active assault, he immediately approached the suspect and victim, actively struggling over control of what appeared to be a centurion-style sword clasped in the suspect’s hands. Two teenage juveniles were standing just past the potentially deadly struggle on the second-floor dead-end and narrow walkway with no escape.
The Deputy, realizing the immediate need to stop this violent assault, drew his weapon and ordered the suspect and victim to drop the weapon. After repeating the order several times, the suspect complied, and she was safely detained. Additional Deputies arrived to assist, and they began to investigate the incident and attend to the injured victim.
Information gained from interviews indicates that the suspect, 43-year-old Elizabeth S. Ptacek, knocked on the victim’s door earlier in the morning. When he opened the door slightly and asked if she needed anything, Ptacek smiled, said no, and she returned to her neighboring apartment. A few minutes later, Ptacek was heard screaming inside her apartment. With no other way to exit his apartment to get the juveniles to school, the victim walked the teenagers down the walkway toward the stairs. Suddenly, Ptacek exited her apartment and thrust the sword toward the victim’s stomach in an attempt to impale him. He blocked the blade with his hand and pined Ptacek against the wall to protect the juveniles and prevent further injury to himself. They continued to struggle over control of the sword until the Deputy arrived and took Ptacek into custody.
When Ptacek was advised of her rights, she made statements that indicated she was possibly suffering a mental health crisis.
Medical personnel arrived to evaluate the suspect and the victim, who received a cut to his hand when he blocked the stabbing attempt.
Ptacek was transported and booked into the Spokane County Jail for Assault 1st Degree.
Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner E. Cruz set Ptacek’s bond at $100,000, and she remains in custody.
This Spokane County Sheriff Office news article "Female Suspect Tries to Impale Victim Neighbor with 2’ Sword/Machete" was originally found on https://www.spokanecounty.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=7