Tag: assault
By Caleb Hutton
BELLINGHAM — A 74-year-old woman was punched in the face by a pedestrian at the intersection of Holly Street and Broadway last week, according to Bellingham police.
The woman reported the crime Monday morning, Nov. 26.
According to her story, as it was relayed by police:
She was turning left in a 2009 Toyota Camry after the traffic light turned green at 8:45 a.m. Nov. 21. An outraged man, whom the driver hadn’t seen in the crosswalk, yelled and flapped his arms at her. He was mad that she was turning toward him.
The woman rolled down the window to apologize. The man asked if she was trying to kill him, then punched her in the face. Because she was wearing glasses, she suffered a 1-inch horizontal cut near her eyebrow.
A detective later advised her to talk to a doctor about the injury.
The suspect was described as a white man of average build and height. He was last seen headed north from the intersection. No further description was available.
Police are encouraging any witnesses to call the police department at 360-778-8800. After hours, call 911.
By Caleb Hutton
BELLINGHAM — A woman was groped from behind as she walked on Bill McDonald Parkway toward Western Washington University’s campus Monday night, Nov. 19.
Western sent out the following alert on Facebook:
A Western Washington University student reported a sexual assault at 9:15 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19. The student reported that she was walking west on Bill McDonald Parkway toward campus from Sehome Village when she was grabbed from behind and groped. When the student screamed, the man fled eastbound on Bill McDonald. The student described the suspect as a male of medium build wearing a light-gray hoodie with the hood up. No further description is available. No weapon was seen, and the student was not seriously injured.
Please be particularly alert when in this area. If you have any information, please call 911.
The student reported the assault to university police. The case has since been forwarded to city police.
Bellingham police spokesman Mark Young didn’t have any further details about the case Monday afternoon. He advised anybody walking alone in the dark to be alert.
By Caleb Hutton
BELLINGHAM — A cab ride turned into a robbery early Thursday, Nov. 15, when a passenger swore and screamed at the driver, then took her cell phone as she called 911, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
The driver picked up Matthew Alan Bentley, 26, from a downtown Bellingham bar about 12:30 a.m. Thursday, said Sgt. Larry Flynn. His destination was on Marine Drive.
During the ride, Bentley’s “unruly” behavior unnerved the driver: He was screaming, swearing and threatening her, Flynn said. The woman cut the route short and drove toward a convenience store along Bennett Drive, where people might be at that time of night, and called 911.
Bentley snatched the phone from her, Flynn said. The frightened woman thought he was going to strike her with it. She honked her horn at a passing state trooper, then ran out of the cab. The man ran out too.
The suspect tumbled over a guard rail, into an embankment full of blackberry bushes. He was still holding the cell phone, with the open line still audible at the 911 dispatch center.
Deputies arrested Bentley at gunpoint. He was booked into jail on suspicion of second-degree robbery and third-degree assault. The assault was a felony because the woman was driving a cab at the time.
The phone was recovered from the bushes and returned to the victim.
Bentley has felonies on his court record for theft and possession of more than 40 grams of marijuana.
By Caleb Hutton
A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of chasing a man and a woman with a butcher knife early Sunday, Oct. 28, at a house south of Ferndale.
Todd Joseph Johnson got into a drunken argument with the two victims during a get-together at the home in the 5000 block of LaBounty Drive, said Ferndale Police Lt. Matt Huffman. Police didn’t note what the argument was about.
About 2:30 a.m., Johnson picked up a butcher knife in the kitchen and briefly chased the man, 27, and the woman, 23, Huffman said. By the time the cops showed up, the knife had been tossed into some bushes. It was recovered and impounded as evidence.
Police arrested Johnson on suspicion of two counts of assault in the second degree. Everyone at the home knew each other.
By Caleb Hutton
A weird one we’d been holding off on covering until we got more info:
Reported: Oct 5 2012 5:14PM
Location: 1400 BLK 12 ST
Offense: ASSAULT – Felony
Case #: 12B37509Officer responded to a report of a possible felony assault. (V1) said her neighbor gave her a cake full of crushed glass.
Police have interviewed both parties in the case. Turns out it may have been an accident, said Bellingham police spokesman Mark Young. He didn’t know the glass-to-cake ratio, but police just don’t have enough evidence to prove innocence or guilt.
I don’t have any notes for this next one, but it’s something that stuck out.
Reported: Oct 21 2012 1:23PM
Location: 2600 BLK BARKLEY BL
Offense: CHILD – LOST/FOUND
Case #: 12B39536(R1) who is a Homeland Security Agent noticed a young male walking alone and contacted the 6 year old. (C1) the 6 year old told the agent a story that led the agent to believe the 6 year olds grandfather was disabled near a duck pond and in need of medical help. Several BPD officers responded along with BFD medics to the last know[n] area of the grandfather. Officers learned that the story was just that, a story, and that the 6 year old had ran away from the grandfather. Everyone was located and found to be safe and healthy.
I’ve got a call out to the cops about the felony assault (case number 12B39583). So expect to see something on the blog or in print about that.
By Caleb Hutton
The search — spelled out in tweets below — ended in the arrest of two men: Preston Eugene Waters and Gavin Jared Haggith. That second name might ring a bell.
I’m still piecing together a story about the woman found with her throat slashed near Nulle Road.
Chopper searching for 2 men running from the law near Lake Terrell. Sparse description of suspects, but they’re not wearing hunter orange.
— Bellingham Crime (@bhamcrime) October 5, 2012
#policescanner: 911 caller claiming to be Lake Terrell suspect No. 1 says he and his friend “took off” because of warrants.
— Bellingham Crime (@bhamcrime) October 5, 2012
#policescanner: “He wanted to come out but his phone keeps dropping.”
— Bellingham Crime (@bhamcrime) October 5, 2012
#policescanner: “He wanted to come out but his phone keeps dropping.”
— Bellingham Crime (@bhamcrime) October 5, 2012
#policescanner: Suspect is giving himself up. Has to climb down from a tree first.
— Bellingham Crime (@bhamcrime) October 5, 2012
#policescanner: “Traumatic injury to the throat” at W Lk Samish and Nulle Rd. Woman walked out of the woods w/injury.
— Bellingham Crime (@bhamcrime) October 5, 2012
By Caleb Hutton
Here are some things that won’t make the paper, but have some news value.
According to Whatcom County Undersheriff Jeff Parks:
Kevin Andrew Davis, 27, jail booking number 219004. Davis was drinking with a former girlfriend, 23, at a Maple Place home, in the Glenhaven area. They had dated for almost a year, but broke up in April. They got into an argument, and the girlfriend locked Davis out of the house. She went into another room when she heard him kick through the door. He barged in and choked her. When he realized someone had called 911, he ran out of the house. Sheriff’s deputies caught him within Bellingham city limits and booked him into jail on investigation of first-degree burglary, second-degree assault and malicious mischief.
The next annotation is my note.
Reported: Sep 18 2012 7:33AM
Location: 100 BLK CHUCKANUT DR N
Offense: MALICIOUS MISCHIEF
Case #: 12B34914Vandals struck again at Fairhaven Park. They were unsuccessful in kicking out windows this time but did break another window and kill a wild bat that lived in the eaves.
Second time that pavilion has been targeted in a couple of weeks.
The following three cases were detailed by Bellingham police spokesman Mark Young.
Reported: Sep 18 2012 4:14PM
Location: 600 BLK W HOLLY ST
Offense: ASSAULT – Felony
Case #: 12B35024Police responded to a possible assault at the above location. (V1) was found bleeding from cuts to his head and face. (V1) was heavily intoxicated and, at the time of the report, was unable to provide details of what occurred.
Still under investigation. Police are still trying to confirm this was actually an assault. Both people involved were probably very intoxicated. The injured man, 28, knows the other man well, and police know both of them well, too. Officers have not been able to confirm what happened because they have not been able to interview the injured man. Other “parties” involved have been interviewed. Police aren’t seeking help from the public in locating the other man. They know who it is and how to reach him.
Reported: Sep 18 2012 5:41PM
Location: 900 BLK LAKEWAY DR
Offense: ACCIDENT – INJURY
Case #: 12B35038An accident occured at the above location
The injuries weren’t serious. Nobody was taken to the hospital.
Reported: Sep 18 2012 8:02PM
Location: 1900 BLK KING ST
Offense: DEATH INVESTIGATION
Case #: 12B35058Officers responded to 1901 King Street on a death investigation.
Possible drug overdose in a gas station bathroom. At the time of the report, cause and manner of death were awaiting confirmation from the county medical examiner.
By Caleb Hutton
A 41-year-old man was sentenced to three months in jail for raising a champagne bottle like he was going to strike a bouncer at a Bellingham bar in July.
Michael Victor Bragg, who lives on the Lummi Reservation, pleaded guilty to third-degree assault, a felony, for attacking a bouncer outside Tubbs Tavern, 118 W. Holly St.
Officers had been keeping an eye on Bragg the night of July 26, because he was walking near Casa Que Pasa shouting, “I’m gonna (mess) some people up tonight,” while carrying a full champagne bottle, according to court records.
Police told him to not cause any problems. He walked into the Beaver Inn Bar. Within a minute, he was thrown out.
Then he went to Tubbs Tavern. After a brief conversation with the bouncer, he announced, “You disrespected me. I’ll kick your (butt).” He raised the champagne bottle in a striking motion, but an officer was able to take him into custody before he could hit him.
The 750 ml bottle of André California Champagne was impounded as evidence.
Bragg was sentenced Aug. 30. He had one prior felony on his record, second-degree burglary.
By Caleb Hutton
BELLINGHAM — A 29-year-old man suspected of throwing a porcelain bowl at his girlfriend was still on the loose as of Tuesday, Sept. 4.
The woman, 22, went to St. Joseph hospital about 1 a.m. Saturday with “significant injuries” to her face and a gash that will require many stitches, said Bellingham police spokesman Mark Young.
She didn’t report her story until Sunday afternoon: She told police she had been arguing with her boyfriend that night at their home in the 900 block of High Street. He threw a porcelain bowl at her, she alleged. Her injuries were serious, but not life-threatening.
Police believe the fight was catalyzed by alcohol.
Young isn’t sure what the woman told hospital staff.
The man’s name will be released if he is not arrested soon, Young said. At the time of this post, he had not been booked into jail. The assault is considered a felony.
Edit on Thursday, Sept. 6: In a news release and on the phone, Young corrected himself about the age of the suspect, Nathan A. Napolitano.
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