A Kalispell man who fled assault charges in Flathead County was arrested last month on the Washington coast as he was coming off of a commercial fishing ship.

Justin Westermeyer, 28, was identified by law enforcement after arriving at a Seattle port, according to a release by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The fishing ship reportedly had come from Alaska and Westermeyer was aboard as an employee.

Westermeyer was charged locally in February with felony assault with a weapon.

Authorities in Washington received a tip about Westermeyer’s warrant, according to U.S. Customs. They picked him out as he was trying to enter the country from international waters. The warrant was verified in a database through the Port of Seattle Police Department and Westermeyer was arrested.

He will be brought back to Montana for court proceedings.

The alleged stabbing occurred on Feb. 3, according to documents filed with Flathead County District Court.

Kalispell police responded to Fifth Avenue West and found a man lying on the ground, bleeding from one stab wound in the chest and five in the back. A bloody white knife was found in the area.

One witness said that it was an argument that turned physical, ending with Westermeyer taking the knife out of a sheath and stabbing the other man. Westermeyer was also on hand after the incident and spoke with police. According to court documents, he admitted stabbing the man.

But he didn’t end up in jail that night.

Capt. Scott Warnell with the Kalispell Police Department said that Westermeyer claimed self-defense when he first spoke with police. An investigation report was turned over to the county attorney’s office and a warrant was issued. By that time, Westermeyer had fled.

According to U.S. Customs, Westermeyer will be extradited to Montana to face the assault charge. He could be sentenced to 20 years in prison for the crime.

Reporter Matt Hudson may be reached at 758-4459 or by email at mhudson@dailyinterlake.com.