BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham police arrested a man for assault after he allegedly touched a girl under the age of 12 inappropriately as she was leaving practice.
Liutenant Claudia Murphy reports officers were sent to the 1700 block of Express Way to the report of a possible sex crime at about 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Witnesses told officers that a child under the age of 12 was leaving practice and being picked up by a parent when a man walked up and slapped or grabbed the child’s buttocks with his hand.
The suspect, 39-year-old Brent E. Oakley, was located walking near the illegal encampment at Fraser and Puget Streets, where he told officers he lives.
He denied the assault but was taken into custody without incident.