Oct. 18 – Spokane police arrest a man accused of brutally attacking a woman in broad daylight Thursday in the heart of Washington State University’s campus in Spokane.
The woman told police that as she left her job in the WSU Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences building and walked to her car during her lunch break, she passed a man wearing a fluorescent jacket. She thought he was a laborer when he made eye contact with her and smiled.
As she was placing items in her car, the man identified by police as 27-year-old Michael Trout grabbed her from behind, spun her around and then wrapped his hands around her throat and squeezed as he tried to pin her to the ground force.
The woman told police she scratched his face and then bit his hand.
He let go and fled, but left behind items identifying him as well as some of his clothing.
Within 90 minutes, police found Trout leaving an apartment in the 500 block of East Everett Avenue and arrested him, according to court documents.
He is being jailed in lieu of $40,000 bail on suspicion of second-degree assault.
This is the second time Trout has been arrested for randomly attacking women in public places.
Two years ago, police arrested him for tackling and trying to strangle a woman who was taking a morning walk during the Centennial Trial near Kendall Yards, according to a previous Spokesman-Review story.
That woman was able to break free and report that she had been attacked.
Trout pleaded guilty to second-degree assault in that attack and was sentenced to nine months in prison and one year of probation. He was also ordered to undergo evaluation for substance abuse and mental health.
During Trout’s initial appearance Friday, Spokane County Superior Court Commissioner Anthony Rugel noted the “remarkable similarity” between the two attacks and raised concerns about the “pattern of behavior.”
Trout’s sister told Rugel that her brother has autism. She said Trout always needs someone to supervise him.
“He needs help,” she said.
She said he will lose his room at a sober living facility where he is staying if he remains in jail. After Rugel posted the $40,000 bond, the sister told the court and her brother that she would pick up his belongings from the facility.
Trout proved to be competent and understand the legal proceedings related to his 2022 assault.
Trout will be arraigned on October 29 for Thursday’s alleged attack.
