Charges filed in stabbing

Prosecutors filed criminal charges yesterday against the man accused of stabbing two UW students north of campus last week.

Christian Kenneth Caple, 28, faces two counts of assault in the second degree. Caple, who is not a student but resides in the U-District, has been in custody in King County Jail since police arrested him early Friday morning. District Court Judge Park Eng set Caple's bail at $200,000.

Caple allegedly stabbed sophomores John Gardenhire and Christopher Breault after they told Caple he could not enter the Theta Chi fraternity, according to court documents.

Breault and Gardenhire are members of the fraternity. They were helping a group of fellow fraternity members and friends build a sign for a Homecoming celebration when Caple approached the house about 1:45 a.m. Friday, witnesses told police.

The two students stopped Caple from entering the house, witnesses told police. He started waving a knife around after they ordered him off the property, police said. He then charged at the students and allegedly stabbed Breault in the lower back and Gardenhire in his left arm, witnesses told police.

The two students were transported to Harborview Medical Center. Breault was admitted to the hospital, and Gardenhire was treated and released.

"He just had a couple of stitches and a Band-Aid," said Josh Smith, Gardenhire's stepfather, from his home yesterday.

Breault is recovering at his home away from the fraternity.

"He's doing much better," said his mother, who declined to give her name. "We're just dealing with it day-by-day."

Police said Caple told them he had been out drinking at "pubs along the Ave." and did not take his "psycho meds" before going out. Police said he smelled strongly of alcohol when he was arrested.

Since 1997, Caple has been convicted of felony forgery and identity theft as well as non-felony assault and property destruction. His arraignment is scheduled for Nov. 4 in King County Superior Court.