White man charged with hate crime after allegedly punching Black sixth grader

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A white man was charged with a hate crime after he allegedly punched a Black sixth-grade boy in Bellingham, Washington, whereas the coed was on a area journey.

Paul Jonathan Bittner, 42, was booked in Whatcom County jail on June 12 on prices of assault of a kid within the second diploma and malicious harassment, a hate crime offense in Washington, reserving information present. His bail was set at $500,000.

Courtroom information, obtained by The Bellingham Herald, revealed that the unnamed 11-year-old suffered a chipped tooth.

College students had been strolling to the Pickford Movie Middle on a area journey when “a neighborhood member bodily assaulted and used racist feedback in the direction of one among our college students,” the Whatcom Center College principal Mischelle Darragh stated in an announcement.

Bittner allegedly pushed the kid earlier than asking: “Are you gonna speak to a white man like that?” The 42-year-old then punched the coed, police informed the outlet.

A spokesperson for the Bellingham Police Division informed The Bellingham Herald that faculty employees “secured the kid and rushed him away from the assailant” earlier than calling 911 and in addition strolling over to the police division for assist.

As Bittner was being handcuffed and positioned within the police patrol automotive, he was making racial slurs, the outlet reported.

The Unbiased has additionally emailed the police division for extra particulars.

Within the aftermath of the assault, metropolis officers launched a video to deal with the incident. “Hate shouldn’t be welcome right here in Bellingham,” Police Chief Rebecca Mertzig declared.

Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund known as the incident “insupportable.”

“Our hearts exit to the kid who skilled this horrible assault and the kids who witnessed it. We’re grateful for the adults who stepped in to guard the kids concerned,” she added.

Principal Darragh addressed the assault in an announcement posted on the college’s web site: “We’re indignant and shocked by what occurred at this time. These occasions are extraordinarily upsetting for everybody at our college and past. We’re wrapping round our college students and doing all we are able to to assist them.”

“We may have extra counseling assist accessible to all college students so long as it’s wanted. As we speak, sixth graders shall be concluding the day with a classroom circle the place college students can share their emotions and issues,” the principal wrote.

The varsity district superintendent Greg Baker confirmed that the assailant was “charged with a hate crime.”

He issued an announcement denouncing the racist encounter: “Bellingham Public Faculties is totally against anti-Black racism, and racism in all kinds. Our dedication to variety, fairness, and inclusion isn’t just an announcement however a Promise to all college students. We acknowledge that racism is deeply rooted and impacts our programs and the lives of many people and households in profound methods. It’s a collective duty to deal with and dismantle these injustices.”