Man accused of stabbing Hillyard convenience store employee

A Spokane man is accused of stabbing a convenience store employee Jan. 9 in the Hillyard area.

Spokane police arrested Richard Elvis Peterson, 28, on suspicion of first-degree assault after he allegedly stabbed a man working at the Qwik Stop on East Wellesley Avenue around 3:40 a.m. Jan. 9, court documents say.

The victim told police Peterson came into the store about an hour before the stabbing and stole several items, court documents say. When Peterson returned to the store, the victim asked him to leave, then escorted him outside when he refused.

Peterson then allegedly displayed a knife, stabbed the victim in the upper chest and tried to stab him several more times, court documents say. The victim went back inside to call police and told police Peterson threw something through the store’s glass door before running away.

Police responded and were able to track Peterson with a police dog, court documents say. He remains in jail in lieu of $100,000 bond.