Police searching for suspect who allegedly brandished weapon, had bias against victim
Bellingham police are searching for a suspect who may have allegedly committed a hate crime while displaying a weapon over the weekend.
Around 9:15 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, Bellingham police responded to the 1800 block of James Street for the report of a weapons violation.
The victim reported a weapon brandishing and a suspected hate crime offense by a stranger, according to the Bellingham police incident log.
There were no injuries reported, but “it was a physical threat with a weapon and words to indicate there was a bias against the victim,” Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald.
Murphy said detectives are working on identifying a suspect, and said releasing further information at this time could hamper the investigation.
Two days earlier, Bellingham police arrested 37-year-old James Nicholas Karis for allegedly provoking a fight outside a Bellingham bar and using a racial slur. Karis was arrested on suspicion of malicious harassment, Washington state’s hate crime statute, and disorderly conduct.
Karis’ arraignment is scheduled for Dec. 27.
In addition, 22-year-old Grifin Levi Sayers pleaded not guilty Dec. 13 in Whatcom County Superior Court to second-degree assault and malicious harassment. Sayers was charged for allegedly attempting to strangle a Sikh American Uber driver while he made comments about the driver’s skin color, Indian heritage and turban.
Sayers’ jury trial is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 24, 2020.
This story was originally published December 24, 2019 at 5:00 AM.
