Group of 6 reportedly ‘cat fish’ man to Bellingham field, beat him with a bat and rob him
A group of six people reportedly “cat fished” a man to get him to meet them at a Bellingham athletic field, beat him with a metal baseball bat, pointed a gun at him and stole his backpack with his wallet and phone inside.
The Bellingham Police Department booked Jason Calvin Harrison, 20 of Bellingham, into Whatcom County Jail Wednesday, March 16, on suspicion of first-degree robbery.
Whatcom County Superior Court records show first-degree robbery charges were filed March 8 and warrants issued for the arrests of Tyler Jay Hoines, 18 of Bellingham; Zoey Lee Kier, 22 of Ferndale; Benjamin Riley Morgan, 22 of Bellingham; and Jadesen Joshua-Lee Knudtson, 18 of Bellingham. A sixth juvenile suspect also has been charged with first-degree robbery, court records show.
Officers responded July 25, 2021, to the Civic Athletic Complex in Bellingham for the report of an assault that occurred at Frank Geri Fields, according to court documents.
The victim called 911 and reported that several suspects beat him with a baseball bat, stole his belongings and pulled a gun upon him, documents state. Officers noted that the victim appeared to be in significant pain and his back was dirty, and he was later taken to St. Joseph’s hospital for treatment to his injuries.
The victim reported that a female named “Bianca Lavoie” sent him a friend request on Facebook earlier that morning, and after chatting, Lavoie asked the victim to meet and hang out at the softball fields at about noon, according to documents. Police investigation reportedly showed Lavoie’s account was created in an effort to “cat fish,” or deceive, the victim.
The victim reported that after he arrived at the fields, he saw three men approach, and one was carrying a metal baseball bat, documents state. The man reportedly struck the victim with the bat and told the victim to give him all his belongings.
The victim said he tried to get away, but tripped and fell before he was struck with the bat several more times in the back and head, according to documents.
Another man then pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at the victim and told the victim to give him all his belongings or be shot, according to documents. The victim gave the group his backpack, which contained his wallet and phone, and the group left.
A city employee witnessed the attack and told police a total of five people were involved and left in an SUV and a black sedan, documents state.
The police investigation, including warrant returns for social media accounts, identified Hoines, Harrison, Morgan, Kier, Knudtson and the juvenile as being involved in the robbery, according to documents.
On Dec. 14, Harrison came to the Bellingham police station for a voluntary interview, according to documents, and he reported that Kier had created the fake Facebook account under the name “Bianca Lavoie” to deceive the victim into going to Frank Geri Fields so that several people could fight him.
Harrison’s account of events at Frank Geri Fields was similar to the victim’s, according to documents, and he said it was Morgan who had the baseball bat and hit the victim and Knutson who had a fake gun and pointed it at the victim. Harrison also reported that everyone got back into the two cars and left after a bystander interrupted the attack.
This story was originally published March 17, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
