BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Bellingham man faces hate crime and assault charges following a random attack at a Bellingham park.
Police Lt. Claudia Murphy says the victim reported he was near a playground at Cornwall Park Saturday afternoon, June 29 when he saw the suspect looking at him.
The suspect, identified as 51-year-old Timothy Franklin, used a racial slur as he asked the man what he was looking at.
Franklin, who is black, then repeatedly punched the man in the face and assaulted him with a screwdriver.
He used racially charged language throughout the attack.
He eventually ran off, but the victim followed him and called police.
The victim was taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries.
Franklin was arrested and remains at the Whatcom County Jail on $50,000 bail.
