BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A man was sent to the hospital, and two others were arrested following a stabbing near downtown Bellingham on Tuesday.

Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy says officers were called to Dupont Street near Maritime Heritage Park around 11:30 a.m. to find a 39-year-old man with two stab wounds in his back.

He was taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center for emergency care, but Murphy says he is expected to recover.

One of the responding officers saw two men walking away from the scene and noticed one of them had blood on his hands. Murphy says the ensuing investigation found that the two men had challenged the victim to a fight before both stabbing him.

One of them was also found to be in possession of suspected cocaine.

Both suspects, a 25-year-old from Bellingham and an 18-year-old from Everett, were booked into the Whatcom County Jail where they remain without bail.

Murphy says more details may still come to light from the ongoing investigation.