Man suspected of throwing brick at victim’s head at Bellingham homeless encampment
A person at the homeless tent encampment in the lower parking lot at Frank Geri Softball Fields was hospitalized Thursday after reportedly being hit in the head with a brick in what police believe was an unprovoked attack.
Bellingham Police booked Keven Scot Basham, 37, into Whatcom County Jail Feb. 25 on suspicion of second-degree assault.
Bellingham Police and Fire responders were called at approximately 8:51 a.m. Thursday to the encampment, located in the 1300 block of Fraser Street, for the report of an assault with a brick, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
Officers were given a description of the man suspected in the attack, who was later identified as Basham and was last seen walking south on Moore Street, Murphy reported.
Meanwhile, another officer located the victim, who was being taken to St. Joseph hospital with a large cut to the forehead, according to Murphy.
A witness, who was sitting with the victim around a fire, told police that Basham approached the two and, unprovoked, threw a brick at the victim’s head with enough force that the brick broke in two when it hit the victim, Murphy reported.
A man matching Basham’s description was found walking in the 1200 block of Lakeway Drive, according to Murphy. After several attempts to get Basham’s attention, police were able to speak to him and place him under arrest.
Whatcom County Superior Court records show that Basham is scheduled to stand trial beginning April 5 on charges of second-degree rape and second-degree assault for an incident Dec. 6, 2019, in which he allegedly raped and strangled a woman he was familiar with in a room at the Motel 6 on Byron Avenue.
