Authorities searching for man suspected of assaulting woman at Whatcom County’s Lake Padden
Bellingham police are investigating a report of an unprovoked attack at Lake Padden on Saturday morning.
A woman told police she was running the Lake Padden trail when she was attacked by a man walking the same direction. She said the man knocked her to the ground without warning and punched her in the face multiple times, according to Megan Peters with the Bellingham Police Department.
Two people heard the woman screaming and ran to help, causing the attacker to flee the scene. One of the witnesses provided aid to the woman and helped her to the trail entrance, while the other watched for the attacker, who was last seen running toward Interstate 5, according to Peters.
The woman was taken to a hospital for her injuries.
Police have not found the attacker, who is described as an average-to-fit white male in his 30s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall with a receding hairline. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and possibly a gray shirt, Peters said.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding the assault to contact law enforcement at 360-778-8611 or at www.cob.org/tips and reference case number 24B35293.
Although the attack occurred during the annual Lake Padden Triathlon, the woman was not participating in the event.
This story was originally published June 24, 2024 at 11:31 AM.
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