Bellingham man suspected of holding woman down and touching her inappropriately
A Bellingham man is suspected of holding a woman he knew on a bed, putting his hands over her mouth so she couldn’t scream and touching her inappropriately during a Roosevelt neighborhood domestic dispute Friday afternoon.
Bellingham police booked Oswaldo Jose Gonzalez-Jimenez into Whatcom County Jail on July 17 on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment (domestic violence), indecent liberties (domestic violence) and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence). Jail records show he is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Officers were called at 4:26 p.m. to the 2100 block of Alabama Street for the report of a physical domestic incident, according to information provided to The Bellingham Herald in an email from Lt. Claudia Murphy.
Officers found that Gonzalez-Jimenez and the victim got into an argument in a bedroom because Gonzalez-Jimenez wanted to engage in sexual activity and the victim did not, Murphy reported. The victim attempted to leave the room, and that allegedly prompted Gonzalez-Jimenez to get angry and prevent her from leaving by grabbing her wrist, wrapping her up and putting her on the bed.
When the victim objected, Gonzalez-Jimenez put his hand over her mouth to prevent her from screaming, but also making it difficult for her to breathe, Murphy wrote.
While still holding her down, Gonzalez-Jimenez then started touching the victim’s intimate areas against her will, according to Murphy.
The victim was able to get away and get family members to call 911 for help, Murphy reported, and Gonzalez-Jimenez admitted to officers that he prevented her from leaving the bedroom and put his hands over her mouth to stop her from speaking.
Resources
If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, you can contact the following local resources for free, confidential support:
▪ Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Services: 24-hour Help Line: 360-715-1563, Email: info@dvsas.org.
▪ Lummi Victims of Crime: 360-312-2015.
▪ Bellingham Police: You can call anonymously at 360-778-8611, or go online at cob.org/tips.
▪ WWU Consultation and Sexual Assault Support Survivor Advocacy Services: 360-650-3700 or wp.wwu.edu/sexualviolence/.
