Bellingham man allegedly calls AM/PM clerk a racially derogatory name, then hits him
Bellingham police arrested a man they suspect in a racially biased assault Friday afternoon at an AM/PM convenience store on Meridian Street.
Russell Scott Wentz, 54 of Bellingham, was booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of fourth-degree assault and malicious harassment — a hate crime. Jail records show Wentz was released on $5,000 bail Monday, March 23.
Officers responded at 1:01 p.m. Friday to the 4200 block of Meridian for the report of the assault, according to information provided to The Bellingham Herald in an email from Lt. Claudia Murphy. They spoke to the victim, who reported:
▪ Wentz came into the store to use the restroom, but left angry when he was told it was closed for cleaning.
▪ Wentz returned to get a coffee, approached the counter where the victim was working, slammed the coffee on the counter and shouted an expletive followed by a racially derogatory name at the victim.
▪ When the victim came around the corner to escort Wentz out of the store, Wentz rushed him and struck him in the face several times with a closed fist. Wentz continued to shout the expletive and the racially derogatory name at the victim.
The attack was witnessed by another person in the store, Murphy reported, and the victim had swelling and redness on his face consistent with having been punched.
Officers located Wentz in the parking lot of a retirement home in the area, according to Murphy, and he ran. Officers again found Wentz in another parking lot and took him into custody without incident.
Whatcom County Superior Court records show Wentz has previous felony convictions for theft, violating a protection order, malicious mischief, DUI and possession of stolen property since 1994 in Whatcom, Kitsap and Yakima counties.
