While Bellingham Police continue to investigate a daytime assault that occurred at Lake Padden, new details about the unprovoked attack were revealed in emails obtained by Cascadia Daily News.
The suspect, a white man in his 30s, remains at large.
At 10:29 a.m. on June 22, a call came in saying a young woman was attacked by a man while running on the southeast side of Lake Padden. It was the same day as the Lake Padden Triathlon. Initially, it took nearly 48 hours for BPD to notify the public about the assault and to ask for the public’s help in identifying the suspect. The department apologized a day later about the delay.
As part of a CDN public information request asking for all email communication about the assault between police and city officials, including the police chief, the earliest communication sent out about the attack was an email from Janice Keller, the city’s interim deputy administrator, on the afternoon of June 23, asking police for more information about the assault.
“If anyone has further word about this incident, please call me on either cell phone,” Keller wrote at 4:45 p.m.
Megan Peters, Bellingham Police spokesperson, responded a few hours later, saying she was in contact with Keller, according to the emails.
By 11 p.m. Sunday, Peters sent an email to herself with details from the attack, including that the suspect was allegedly carrying either a tire iron or crow bar but did not use it. Additionally the suspect reportedly had a red backpack. Those details were not included in the initial press release sent to the media the next morning.
Despite emails from CDN requesting information, first on Sunday afternoon and then a follow-up email the next morning, on June 24, it took until 10:45 a.m. the same day for Peters to send out a public press release about the attack. The Bellingham Herald had also asked for information early in the day.
The victim suffered a broken nose as a result of the attack, according to an email circulated through the police department on June 25.
The victim’s injuries were not provided by Peters when CDN asked for an update on June 24. She responded by saying, “I don’t have medical information to share regarding the victim.”
Records show two witnesses heard the victim screaming and were able to intervene. One witness, an off-duty firefighter, who was participating in the triathlon, was able to provide first aid while the second witness was able to follow the suspect a short distance. Both witnesses were able to give a description of the suspect to law enforcement.
Peters declined to discuss the case further when asked on Tuesday, July 9 for an investigation update or information about numbers of tips received.
“Detectives are not providing any additional updates regarding the ongoing investigation,” she said in an email. “I’ll be sure to send any updates on the case to you when there is one.”
Police released a sketch of the suspect on June 27 described as an “average-to-fit” white man in his 30s, about 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-10 with a “distinct receding hairline.”
City officials, including the mayor and city council members, were notified an hour after the press release was sent to the media on June 24. Officials received the press release along with a message from Keller explaining the delay.
“I know there is high community interest in this incident and at least one Council member had questions about it over the weekend,” she wrote. “We are working on our internal systems to be more timely in sharing information internally and with the public when warranted.”
City officials also received emails from concerned citizens asking about the delay in notification.
Five days later, Mayor Kim Lund sent an email to city council members, the police chief and deputy police chief, about a CDN column pointing out the communication failure. In the email, she wrote that the city council has prioritized better communication with the media, including the hiring of Peters. But she said, more had to be done.
“While this particular incident brought these concerns to the forefront this week, we’ve been in ongoing conversation that our systems need improvement,” Lund wrote.
A meeting between Lund, Rebecca Mertzig and Jason Monson, was held to address the issues.
Police are asking anyone with information about the assault to contact the department at 360-778-8611 or online at cob.org/tips, reference case number 24B35293.
Editor’s note: The story has been updated to include Janice Keller’s full title with the City of Bellingham. She is the Interim Deputy Administrator and Communications Director.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
