Man arrested in connection with knife attack at north Spokane restaurant

Police have arrested a man in connection with a knife attack at a restaurant in north Spokane.

Michael L. Backemeyer, 40, is accused of slashing an employee’s face at the Peking North restaurant on North Division Street after he was asked to leave the bar, according to a police news release.

Officers were called to the restaurant just before 1 a.m. Friday. They found the victim with several lacerations on his face but couldn’t find the suspect.

Following up on “investigative leads,” police tracked Backemeyer to a vacant home in the 2800 block of North Cincinatti Street and arrested him at about 3 a.m. Sunday, the news release said.

In 2012, Backemeyer was accused of firing shots at his former roommates during a fight over a TV. Police found bullet holes in the ceiling and wall of the roommates’ apartment, but the assault charges against Backemeyer were eventually dismissed.

He now faces a first-degree assault charge in connection with the knife attack.