Sex offender arrested after being stabbed

A man stabbed this morning in north Spokane is a level 3 sex offender suspected of making harassing phone calls to a county employee. John D. Anderson, 39, had a warrant for his arrest when officers responded to the 7000 block of North Tucannon Court just after midnight for reports of a man banging on a patio door yelling for help. Abel G. Rocha, 49, was arrested less than an hour later, accused of stabbing Anderson while the two were drinking in a turnout along Aubrey L. White Parkway. “They went to that location to listen to music and drink,” said Sgt. Mark Griffiths. “For whatever reason, Mr. Rocha attacked and kicked and stabbed him.” Anderson was combative with police, but officers held him down as medics treated a stab wound to the left abdomen, police said. Anderson was undergoing surgery during his scheduled first appearance in Spokane County Superior Court. His arraignment is scheduled for Aug. 25 at 10:30 a.m. Anderson’s criminal history includes convictions for indecent liberties, second-degree robbery, second-degree attempted burglary, assault, obstructing an officer and menacing. He faces a new charge of malicious harassment after police say he left two sexually explicit voice mails for a Spokane County employee in June.