What Happened in Bellingham on Wednesday, December 17th, 2025
Yesterday in Bellingham, police responded to 39 incidents, up 5% from 37 the day before. 3 violent crimes were reported, and officers made 15 arrests.
The most common incident type was Administrative, accounting for 14 of 39 reports (36% of total). The most active neighborhood was Downtown with 7 incidents.
Overall activity was 20% below the 30-day average of 49 incidents per day.
Incident Categories
Yesterday, Bellingham reported incidents across 8 categories. Administrative led with 14 incidents (36% of total), followed by Disorder with 5 and Behavioral Health with 5.
Administrative alone accounted for more incidents than the next 3 categories combined, which totaled 13.
Trending: Sex Offenses is up 50% over the past 7 days (6 incidents this week vs 4 the prior week).
Incident Category Breakdown
What's In “Administrative”▶
Overview
Violent Crime
3 violent crimes were reported in Bellingham yesterday, accounting for 8% of all incidents. This is up 200% from the prior day.
The most common violent offense was ASSAULT - Misdemeanor with 1 of 3 incidents, followed by WEAPON VIOLATIONS with 1. Of 3 violent incidents, 3 resulted in an arrest — a 100% arrest rate.
| Time | Offense | Neighborhood | Block |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:03 | ASSAULT - MisdemeanorViolent | South Hill | 1000 Block of 20th St |
| 09:11 | WEAPON VIOLATIONSViolent | Sehome | 1300 Block of N Garden St |
| 15:41 | COLLISION - HIT & RUNViolent | Irongate | 3200 Block of James St |
Arrests
Bellingham police made 15 arrests yesterday, involving 13 individuals. 3 arrests were related to violent incidents.
Arrests accounted for 38% of all incidents. Of the 15 arrests, 3 were Administrative, 3 were Traffic & Vehicles, and 2 were Assault & Violence. This is up 114% from the 7 arrests the prior day.
| Time | Offense | Category | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:03 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | South Hill |
| 00:03 | ASSAULT - Misdemeanor | Assault & ViolenceViolent | South Hill |
| 00:45 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Roosevelt |
| 04:13 | OBSTRUCTING A LAW ENF OFFICER | Harassment & Threats | Downtown |
| 09:10 | DRUG - NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS | Drugs & Alcohol | Downtown |
| 09:11 | WEAPON VIOLATIONS | Assault & ViolenceViolent | Sehome |
| 09:11 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Sehome |
| 12:49 | DRUG - NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS | Drugs & Alcohol | South Hill |
| 15:22 | THEFT | Theft & Burglary | Roosevelt |
| 15:41 | COLLISION - HIT & RUN | Traffic & VehiclesViolent | Irongate |
| 17:10 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Meridian |
| 18:14 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Puget |
| 19:52 | THEFT | Theft & Burglary | Meridian |
| 22:59 | MALICIOUS MISCHIEF | Disorder | Meridian |
| 23:00 | DISORDERLY CONDUCT | Disorder | Downtown |
Neighborhood Activity
Yesterday, incidents were reported across 15 neighborhoods in Bellingham. Downtown had the highest activity with 7 incidents, followed by Meridian with 6 and Sehome with 4.
1 specific location has appeared in the top 10 most active blocks for 4 or more of the last 7 days, including 500 Block of Grand Ave (5 of 7 days).
Explore all neighborhoods and their trends in Bellingham Neighborhood Safety. →
Hourly Breakdown
Activity in Bellingham yesterday peaked between 12 AM – 1 AM with 4 incidents during that hour. The quietest period was 1am with no incidents reported.
Overnight (12–6 AM) saw 5 incidents, morning (6 AM–12 PM) had 12, afternoon (12–6 PM) had 10, and evening (6 PM–12 AM) had 12. Morning was the busiest period overall.
Wednesdays in Bellingham typically average 49 incidents. Yesterday's total of 39 is 10 below that 8-week average (20% lower).
How Does This Compare?
The 7-day rolling average is 41.9 incidents per day, below the 30-day average of 48.5 — suggesting a quieter-than-normal stretch.
Key Patterns
This Week Is Pacing Lower Than Last
Through Wednesday (3 days), this week has recorded 123 incidents — 12% fewer than the 140 reported at the same point last week. The current pace suggests this week may finish below last week.
Downtown: Most Active for 4 Straight Days
Downtown has been the most active neighborhood for 4 consecutive days. Today it logged 7 incidents (18% of the city total).
Sex Offenses Up 50% This Week
Sex Offenses incidents have risen sharply: 6 in the past 7 days compared to 4 the prior 7 days — a 50% increase. Today alone saw 2 sex offenses incidents.
Full Incident Log
This log contains all 39 incidents reported to the Bellingham Police Department on Wednesday, December 17th, 2025. Published Thursday, December 18th, 2025.
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What Happened in Bellingham on Wednesday, December 17th, 2025
Yesterday in Bellingham, police responded to 39 incidents, up 5% from 37 the day before. 3 violent crimes were reported, and officers made 15 arrests.
The most common incident type was Administrative, accounting for 14 of 39 reports (36% of total). The most active neighborhood was Downtown with 7 incidents.
Overall activity was 20% below the 30-day average of 49 incidents per day.
Incident Categories
Yesterday, Bellingham reported incidents across 8 categories. Administrative led with 14 incidents (36% of total), followed by Disorder with 5 and Behavioral Health with 5.
Administrative alone accounted for more incidents than the next 3 categories combined, which totaled 13.
Trending: Sex Offenses is up 50% over the past 7 days (6 incidents this week vs 4 the prior week).
Incident Category Breakdown
What's In “Administrative”▶
Overview
Violent Crime
3 violent crimes were reported in Bellingham yesterday, accounting for 8% of all incidents. This is up 200% from the prior day.
The most common violent offense was ASSAULT - Misdemeanor with 1 of 3 incidents, followed by WEAPON VIOLATIONS with 1. Of 3 violent incidents, 3 resulted in an arrest — a 100% arrest rate.
| Time | Offense | Neighborhood | Block |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:03 | ASSAULT - MisdemeanorViolent | South Hill | 1000 Block of 20th St |
| 09:11 | WEAPON VIOLATIONSViolent | Sehome | 1300 Block of N Garden St |
| 15:41 | COLLISION - HIT & RUNViolent | Irongate | 3200 Block of James St |
Arrests
Bellingham police made 15 arrests yesterday, involving 13 individuals. 3 arrests were related to violent incidents.
Arrests accounted for 38% of all incidents. Of the 15 arrests, 3 were Administrative, 3 were Traffic & Vehicles, and 2 were Assault & Violence. This is up 114% from the 7 arrests the prior day.
| Time | Offense | Category | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:03 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | South Hill |
| 00:03 | ASSAULT - Misdemeanor | Assault & ViolenceViolent | South Hill |
| 00:45 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Roosevelt |
| 04:13 | OBSTRUCTING A LAW ENF OFFICER | Harassment & Threats | Downtown |
| 09:10 | DRUG - NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS | Drugs & Alcohol | Downtown |
| 09:11 | WEAPON VIOLATIONS | Assault & ViolenceViolent | Sehome |
| 09:11 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Sehome |
| 12:49 | DRUG - NARCOTICS VIOLATIONS | Drugs & Alcohol | South Hill |
| 15:22 | THEFT | Theft & Burglary | Roosevelt |
| 15:41 | COLLISION - HIT & RUN | Traffic & VehiclesViolent | Irongate |
| 17:10 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Meridian |
| 18:14 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Puget |
| 19:52 | THEFT | Theft & Burglary | Meridian |
| 22:59 | MALICIOUS MISCHIEF | Disorder | Meridian |
| 23:00 | DISORDERLY CONDUCT | Disorder | Downtown |
Neighborhood Activity
Yesterday, incidents were reported across 15 neighborhoods in Bellingham. Downtown had the highest activity with 7 incidents, followed by Meridian with 6 and Sehome with 4.
1 specific location has appeared in the top 10 most active blocks for 4 or more of the last 7 days, including 500 Block of Grand Ave (5 of 7 days).
Explore all neighborhoods and their trends in Bellingham Neighborhood Safety. →
Hourly Breakdown
Activity in Bellingham yesterday peaked between 12 AM – 1 AM with 4 incidents during that hour. The quietest period was 1am with no incidents reported.
Overnight (12–6 AM) saw 5 incidents, morning (6 AM–12 PM) had 12, afternoon (12–6 PM) had 10, and evening (6 PM–12 AM) had 12. Morning was the busiest period overall.
Wednesdays in Bellingham typically average 49 incidents. Yesterday's total of 39 is 10 below that 8-week average (20% lower).
How Does This Compare?
The 7-day rolling average is 41.9 incidents per day, below the 30-day average of 48.5 — suggesting a quieter-than-normal stretch.
Key Patterns
This Week Is Pacing Lower Than Last
Through Wednesday (3 days), this week has recorded 123 incidents — 12% fewer than the 140 reported at the same point last week. The current pace suggests this week may finish below last week.
Downtown: Most Active for 4 Straight Days
Downtown has been the most active neighborhood for 4 consecutive days. Today it logged 7 incidents (18% of the city total).
Sex Offenses Up 50% This Week
Sex Offenses incidents have risen sharply: 6 in the past 7 days compared to 4 the prior 7 days — a 50% increase. Today alone saw 2 sex offenses incidents.
Full Incident Log
This log contains all 39 incidents reported to the Bellingham Police Department on Wednesday, December 17th, 2025. Published Thursday, December 18th, 2025.
Get the daily briefing
Free, every morning.