Bellingham man reported he was beaten, but police suspect he committed a hate crime
A Bellingham man who called police to report that he had been beaten up early Thursday is now suspected of a hate crime, after officers found that he allegedly provoked the fight, flicked his cigarette in the victim’s face and used a racial slur.
Bellingham police arrested and booked James Nicholas Karis, 37, into Whatcom County Jail Dec. 19 on suspicion of malicious harassment and disorderly conduct, and jail records show he was released later that day on $7,500 bail.
Officers were called at 2:10 a.m. Thursday to the 1000 block of North State Street for the report of the fight, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald.
Witnesses told police that Karis and the victim were in a bar when Karis began to provoke the victim, Murphy said. The two moved to the alley, and witnesses reported that Karis got in the face of the victim, trying to challenge him.
Officers were also told that Karis used a racial slur to berate the victim, whom Murphy said was described as a black man. Karris also reportedly flicked a cigarette in the victim’s face.
Karis and the victim began a physical fight before several witnesses stepped in to break it up, Murphy said. Both Karis and the victim left the area, and Karis called to report that he was beaten up.
When officers spoke to Karis, he continued to be belligerent and uncooperative, Murphy said, and his behavior continued with medics who arrived to check him out.
Murphy said this was the 19th hate crime Bellingham police have investigated this year, and five of those have met the requirements of the Hate Crime Offense statute.
Most recently, Grifin Levi Sayers was charged with a hate crime Dec. 9 after he allegedly insulted and choked a Sikh Uber driver in the Barkley neighborhood. Sayers was arraigned Dec. 13 and is scheduled for a jury trial Feb. 24 in Whatcom County Superior Court.
This story was originally published December 20, 2019 at 11:51 AM.
