Man in custody, facing felonies following Bellingham garbage bin fires
A man in custody following an arrest by Bellingham police is facing multiple felony charges related to recent fires that were set inside recycling and garbage bins.
Authorities arrested Malcom Lamar Matulevich, 35, on April 27, and he has since been charged with crimes related to two fires:
▪ On April 21 police were called to a fire in the 3300 block of Racine Street around 9 p.m. The fire was in a recycling bin, which had been completely destroyed. Crews from the Bellingham Fire Department had the fire out by the time police arrived, according to Lt. Claudia Murphy with the Bellingham Police Department.
▪ On April 27, officers responded to a call in the 1400 block of Woodstock Way, regarding possible shots fired around 12:07 a.m. Police were notified that the popping noise was made by a fire. When they arrived, officers discovered a dumpster had been set on fire, which melted the dumpster and burned down the surrounding wood fence, Murphy said.
Police reviewed security footage of the nearby areas and identified Matulevich as a suspect, as he was recognized by one of the officers, Murphy said.
Matulevich has been charged with two counts of second-degree arson, a class B felony. He has also been charged with two counts of second-degree malicious mischief, a class C felony, and second-degree reckless burning, a gross misdemeanor.
He remains in custody at Whatcom County Jail.
This story was originally published May 16, 2025 at 1:40 PM.
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