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Bellingham police investigate attempted abductions of girl, woman

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A 13-year-old girl and a woman were sprayed in the face with an unknown substance during two separate attempted abductions Friday in Bellingham, police said.

The first incident happened in the 700 block of West Bakerview Road at about 8:20 a.m.

Authorities said a 13-year-old girl told police she was waiting for a school bus when a man approached her. He told her to go with him.

When the girl refused, the man punched the girl in the face and sprayed her in the eyes with an unknown substance, according to police.

The girl ran home to report the attack to her parents and then told police. She was then taken to the hospital to be checked out, and there were no apparent injuries.

Police went to the location of the attack and searched the area, but could not find the man.

The second incident happened after 7 p.m. in the 4100 block of Aldrich Road.

Police said a 24-year-old woman was walking alone on the sidewalk when a man came up from behind and grabbed her by the arm.

The man then sprayed the woman in the eyes with an unknown substance and demanded her to go with him.

The woman refused and yelled. Then the man was last seen running toward West Bakerview Road.

Police and a K9 unit checked the area, but could not find the man.

Both victims described the man as white, in his 20s with lighter-colored facial hair, between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 7 inches, with a thin build, wearing dark-rimmed glasses and was last seen wearing blue jeans and a dark-colored jacket.

Police are asking anyone with information to contact Bellingham police detective Jana Bouzek at 360-778-8826.

There have been other attacks in Bellingham at Western Washington University. A woman was attacked on Feb. 22 and another woman was attacked on Thursday.

Investigators have not said if Friday's attacks are related to the previous attacks.