Assault victim disappears

Investigators are looking for a 20-year-old transient who disappeared after being assaulted at a house party in North Whidbey July 25.

Detective Ed Wallace with the Island County Sheriff’s Office said officers are worried about Justin Buchanan’s welfare since he just seemed to drop off the face of the earth. Wallace stressed that Buchanan is not wanted for any crime.

“We can’t find him. He left the scene of the assault and hasn’t been seen since,” Wallace said.

Wallace said deputies responded to a 911 hang-up call from a home off Troxell Road July 25. Witnesses said that the suspect, John Umayam, assaulted Buchanan during the party, then they both left, according to Wallace.

Deputies were able to find Umayam. Wallace said Umayam was riding Buchanan’s bicycle and wasn’t cooperative with deputies. He was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct, obstructing a police officer and theft in the third degree, according to the detective.

Buchanan’s friends and family don’t know where he is, Wallace said. Buchanan is homeless and has ties on both North and South Whidbey.

Investigators don’t know how serious the assault was because they don’t have a victim.

Buchanan is a 5-foot-8-inch white man and weighs about 180 pounds.

Anyone that might know Buchanan’s location should contact the sheriff’s office via the ICOM dispatch center at 360-679-9567, or 360-321-5113.

Contact Whidbey News Times Assistant editor Jessie Stensland at jstensland@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360.675.6611 ext. 5056.

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