Man accused of threatening teen at Bellingham bus stop faces hate crime charge
A 24-year-old man was arrested Friday on suspicion of a hate crime, according to the Bellingham Police Department.
A 14-year-old Whatcom Middle School student reported being threatened with a knife at a bus stop on their way to school March 25, BPD Lt. Andria Fountain told The Bellingham Herald. While peeling an orange with a knife, the man allegedly tossed the peel at the student and called them a racial slur.
The student moved away from the man, Fountain said, but the 24-year-old followed them. He threatened to stab the student and called them another racial slur. The bus arrived around this time, and the driver did not let the man board.
BPD began to investigate the case and identified the suspect. He was spotted by police Friday and booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of a hate crime and felony harassment. He had yet to be formally charged as of Monday, April 6.
This story was originally published April 6, 2026 at 10:33 AM.