Bellingham man suspected of molesting young child he knows
A Bellingham man is suspected of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 12 that he was familiar with last December.
Bellingham police booked Ryan Shane Boyd, 38, into Whatcom County Jail Tuesday, Sept. 22, on suspicion of first-degree child molestation. Jail records show Boyd also had warrants for two DUI charges from the Washington State Patrol from 2019 and is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Bellingham detectives began investigating in August after a Child Protective Services referral regarding a sexual abuse that allegedly happened in December, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
The investigation found that Ryan touched the young victim in a sexual manner and told the victim not to tell, Murphy reported.
Whatcom County Superior Court records show that Boyd is awaiting a Nov. 30 jury trial on charges of attempting to elude police vehicles and hit and run stemming from a March 27 incident. He also has previous convictions for violation of a protection order, harassment, residential burglary, forgery and theft.
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/.
▪ Brigid Collins Family Support Center: 360-734-4616, brigidcollins.org.
