These five people were arrested at Bellingham protest and homeless camp removal
Five people were arrested Jan. 28 during a protest and removal of a downtown Bellingham homeless tent encampment. At least three of the people arrested were homeless themselves.
Three people have been charged with felonies in Whatcom County Superior Court, according to court records. Two others were charged in Bellingham Municipal Court.
Bellingham police have ongoing investigations that may lead to more arrests, Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy said.
A homeless tent encampment, known as Camp 210, started in November on the lawns of Bellingham City Hall at 210 Lottie St. and the Bellingham public library at 210 Central Ave. Camp 210 was an occupied protest over the lack of shelter available for homeless people. Volunteers estimated that between 90 to 120 people were living there.
Early on Jan. 28, more than 100 law enforcement officers in riot and tactical gear from four different agencies and Bellingham public works crews with heavy machinery and large dumpsters arrived to clear the area a day before the city’s deadline for the homeless encampment to leave.
Protesters used wooden pallets to block officials from clearing the encampment. The barricade allowed volunteers time to help the residents gather their belongings and leave.
Three law enforcement officers were assaulted but unharmed by the time protesters left around 3:30 p.m. on Jan. 28, according to city officials.
That same day, volunteers helped the encampment move to the lower parking lot near Frank Geri Softball Fields off of Puget Street.
Felony arrests
▪ Joseph Dale Sanders, 24, was charged in Superior Court with one count of felony third-degree assault, according to court records. Sanders allegedly hit an officer in the head during the protest with a PVC pipe, the court records state.
Sanders was arrested and taken into custody, the records state.
Sanders, who is homeless, had a $12,000 bond or $1,200 bail set at his first appearance on Feb. 1.
Sanders was released from the Whatcom County Jail on bond at 12:28 a.m. on Feb. 2, according to jail records. A harassment no contact order has been put in place between Sanders and the police officer.
His arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 22.
▪ A 20-year-old man was also charged in Superior Court with one count of felony third-degree assault for allegedly punching an officer in the face and kicking at least one other officer in the legs, according to court records.
The man, who is homeless, had his case dismissed on Feb. 4 due to competency concerns, court records show.
Protesters had a large pole that they held in front of their bodies to form a barrier between themselves and law enforcement, the records state. Police attempted to move the protesters back, but a pushing match with the pole started, the records state.
While an officer had his hands on the pole, the man allegedly punched the officer on the left side of his face, according to court records.
The officer said he later saw the man allegedly kick at least one other officer in the legs, the court records state.
Later in the day, the officer said he watched the male be arrested from a vehicle on Commercial Street and the officer later identified the man as the person who allegedly assaulted him, the court records state.
The court initially set the man’s bond at $18,000 or $1,800 bail. He was released from jail shortly before 10 p.m. on Feb. 1, according to court records.
▪ Samantha Grace Zender, 19, has been charged with five counts of felony third-degree assault, according to court records.
Zender, of Bellingham, allegedly repeatedly assaulted officers in the head, shoulders and chest as law enforcement attempted to push the group of protesters back so city public works crews could clear the homeless encampment, according to court records.
Zender, who was identifiable because she had bright green hair and allegedly wasn’t wearing a face mask to slow the spread of COVID-19, also allegedly spit on an officer, the records state. Bellingham police developed probable cause to arrest Zender, but were unable to take her into custody, the court records state.
Later in the day, as protesters moved their barricade back on Grand Avenue towards Lottie Street, Zender got stuck in between the protesters and law enforcement, according to court records. A Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputy pushed Zender back “for safety and in order to keep the integrity of our line,” the court records state.
Zender allegedly did not follow directions to get back behind the barricades, and pushed several deputies. She also allegedly grabbed at one of the deputy’s pepper ball guns, the court records state.
Zender was taken to the ground and was arrested, the records show. She was released from jail at 3:18 p.m. on Jan. 29 on a $5,000 appearance bond, jail records state.
Her first appearance in court has been scheduled for 10 a.m. on Feb. 8, the court records state.
Municipal court arrests
Two people arrested on Jan. 28 have been charged with misdemeanors in Bellingham Municipal Court.
▪ A 27-year-old homeless man was charged with fourth-degree assault and failure to disperse for allegedly confronting a Bellingham police officer and spitting at him, Murphy said. The man’s charges were dismissed on Feb. 4, according to a court administrator.
▪ A 32-year-old man from Glacier, has been charged with failure to disperse, reckless endangerment and obstructing a law enforcement officer. The man’s arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 12, according to the municipal court administrator. The man was released from the Whatcom County Jail on his personal recognizance on Jan. 29, the administrator said.
