New sketch released after more lewd incidents in Bellingham

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — After three lewd incidents in as many days, Bellingham police released a sketch of a man in one incident that occurred on Friday.

Police don’t know if the incidents are related or if the man is connected to the more than two dozen incidents of lewd conduct, voyeurism and assault near the Western Washington University campus since late summer.

Police say man in the sketch was seen masturbating in the 700 block of Gladstone Street near Iron Street at 5:10 a.m. Friday. A neighbor heading to work saw the man standing under a streetlight.

According to the Bellingham Herald, the witness described the man as about 5-feet-8 inches tall, with an average build, with very short brown hair and scruffy facial hair, but no beard. He was wearing a baggy black hooded sweatshirt and baggy black pants.

In another incident at 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, a man bought a beer and then exposed himself to the female clerk at JJ's Food Stop at 2219 Douglas Ave in the Happy Valley neighborhood. %

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"The suspect is described as having a dark complexion, early to mid-20s, 5-feet 6-inches tall, wearing a medium white or gray T-shirt and pajama pants," an email to WWU students said.

Police obtained a photo from the store’s surveillance video.

The third incident happened at about 11:35 p.m. Monday.

An alert sent to WWU students said police received a report of a man exposing himself at a home in the 900 block of North Garden Street near campus.

A man told police his roommate looked out the kitchen window and saw a man exposing himself.

The man, who was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, then ran away. Police searched the area but did not find the suspect.

Anyone with information about the identity of the suspect is asked to call Detective Sue Howell at 360-778-8682, or make a report at cob.org.

Cox Media Group