What Happened in Bellingham on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026
Yesterday in Bellingham, police responded to 44 incidents, up 47% from 30 the day before. 3 violent crimes were reported, and officers made 12 arrests.
The most common incident type was Administrative, accounting for 13 of 44 reports (30% of total). The most active neighborhood was Downtown with 11 incidents.
Overall activity was 59% above the 30-day average of 28 incidents per day.
Incident Categories
Yesterday, Bellingham reported incidents across 8 categories. Administrative led with 13 incidents (30% of total), followed by Theft & Burglary with 8 and Disorder with 6.
Trending: Traffic & Vehicles is up 64% over the past 7 days (23 incidents this week vs 14 the prior week).
Incident Category Breakdown
What's In “Administrative”▶
Overview
Violent Crime
3 violent crimes were reported in Bellingham yesterday, accounting for 7% of all incidents. This is up 200% from the prior day.
The most common violent offense was BURGLARY with 1 of 3 incidents, followed by FIGHT with 1. Of 3 violent incidents, 1 resulted in an arrest — a 33% arrest rate.
| Time | Offense | Neighborhood | Block |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:52 | BURGLARYViolent | Sehome | 400 Block of E Holly St |
| 22:33 | FIGHTViolent | Downtown | 100 Block of E Holly St |
| 23:43 | ASSAULT - MisdemeanorViolent | Downtown | 100 Block of E Holly St |
Arrests
Bellingham police made 12 arrests yesterday, involving 11 individuals. 1 arrest was related to violent incidents.
Arrests accounted for 27% of all incidents. Of the 12 arrests, 4 were Administrative, 3 were Harassment & Threats, and 2 were Traffic & Vehicles. This is up 50% from the 8 arrests the prior day.
| Time | Offense | Category | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:37 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Puget |
| 08:08 | VIOLATION OF A COURT ORDER | Harassment & Threats | Happy Valley |
| 09:00 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Meridian |
| 11:52 | SHOPLIFTING | Theft & Burglary | Meridian |
| 15:25 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Roosevelt |
| 15:50 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Meridian |
| 16:49 | SHOPLIFTING | Theft & Burglary | Birchwood |
| 18:29 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Downtown |
| 18:56 | VIOLATION OF A COURT ORDER | Harassment & Threats | York |
| 20:54 | HARASSMENT | Harassment & Threats | Downtown |
| 21:51 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Downtown |
| 23:43 | ASSAULT - Misdemeanor | Assault & ViolenceViolent | Downtown |
Neighborhood Activity
Yesterday, incidents were reported across 12 neighborhoods in Bellingham. Downtown had the highest activity with 11 incidents, followed by Meridian with 7 and Happy Valley with 4.
Downtown accounted for 25% of all incidents — a quarter or more of the city's activity in a single neighborhood.
Explore all neighborhoods and their trends in Bellingham Neighborhood Safety. →
Hourly Breakdown
Activity in Bellingham yesterday peaked between 11 AM – 12 PM with 5 incidents during that hour. The quietest period was 1am with no incidents reported.
Overnight (12–6 AM) saw 4 incidents, morning (6 AM–12 PM) had 13, afternoon (12–6 PM) had 15, and evening (6 PM–12 AM) had 12. Afternoon was the busiest period overall.
Tuesdays in Bellingham typically average 42 incidents. Yesterday's total of 44 is 2 above that 8-week average (5% higher).
How Does This Compare?
The 7-day rolling average is 30.9 incidents per day, above the 30-day average of 27.7 — suggesting a busier-than-normal stretch.
Key Patterns
30-Day High: 44 Incidents
Today's 44 incidents is the highest single-day count in the past 30 days. The 30-day average is 28 per day — today is 57% above that baseline. Prior to today, the last time the count was this high was 35 days ago.
This Week Is Pacing Higher Than Last
Through Tuesday (2 days), this week has recorded 74 incidents — 23% more than the 60 reported at the same point last week. If the pace holds, the week could finish well above last week’s total.
Traffic & Vehicles Up 64% This Week
Traffic & Vehicles incidents have risen sharply: 23 in the past 7 days compared to 14 the prior 7 days — a 64% increase. Today alone saw 3 traffic & vehicles incidents.
Full Incident Log
This log contains all 44 incidents reported to the Bellingham Police Department on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026. Published Wednesday, January 21st, 2026.
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What Happened in Bellingham on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026
Yesterday in Bellingham, police responded to 44 incidents, up 47% from 30 the day before. 3 violent crimes were reported, and officers made 12 arrests.
The most common incident type was Administrative, accounting for 13 of 44 reports (30% of total). The most active neighborhood was Downtown with 11 incidents.
Overall activity was 59% above the 30-day average of 28 incidents per day.
Incident Categories
Yesterday, Bellingham reported incidents across 8 categories. Administrative led with 13 incidents (30% of total), followed by Theft & Burglary with 8 and Disorder with 6.
Trending: Traffic & Vehicles is up 64% over the past 7 days (23 incidents this week vs 14 the prior week).
Incident Category Breakdown
What's In “Administrative”▶
Overview
Violent Crime
3 violent crimes were reported in Bellingham yesterday, accounting for 7% of all incidents. This is up 200% from the prior day.
The most common violent offense was BURGLARY with 1 of 3 incidents, followed by FIGHT with 1. Of 3 violent incidents, 1 resulted in an arrest — a 33% arrest rate.
| Time | Offense | Neighborhood | Block |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00:52 | BURGLARYViolent | Sehome | 400 Block of E Holly St |
| 22:33 | FIGHTViolent | Downtown | 100 Block of E Holly St |
| 23:43 | ASSAULT - MisdemeanorViolent | Downtown | 100 Block of E Holly St |
Arrests
Bellingham police made 12 arrests yesterday, involving 11 individuals. 1 arrest was related to violent incidents.
Arrests accounted for 27% of all incidents. Of the 12 arrests, 4 were Administrative, 3 were Harassment & Threats, and 2 were Traffic & Vehicles. This is up 50% from the 8 arrests the prior day.
| Time | Offense | Category | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|
| 06:37 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Puget |
| 08:08 | VIOLATION OF A COURT ORDER | Harassment & Threats | Happy Valley |
| 09:00 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Meridian |
| 11:52 | SHOPLIFTING | Theft & Burglary | Meridian |
| 15:25 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Roosevelt |
| 15:50 | TRAFFIC STOP (Violation) | Traffic & Vehicles | Meridian |
| 16:49 | SHOPLIFTING | Theft & Burglary | Birchwood |
| 18:29 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Downtown |
| 18:56 | VIOLATION OF A COURT ORDER | Harassment & Threats | York |
| 20:54 | HARASSMENT | Harassment & Threats | Downtown |
| 21:51 | WARRANT ARREST | Administrative | Downtown |
| 23:43 | ASSAULT - Misdemeanor | Assault & ViolenceViolent | Downtown |
Neighborhood Activity
Yesterday, incidents were reported across 12 neighborhoods in Bellingham. Downtown had the highest activity with 11 incidents, followed by Meridian with 7 and Happy Valley with 4.
Downtown accounted for 25% of all incidents — a quarter or more of the city's activity in a single neighborhood.
Explore all neighborhoods and their trends in Bellingham Neighborhood Safety. →
Hourly Breakdown
Activity in Bellingham yesterday peaked between 11 AM – 12 PM with 5 incidents during that hour. The quietest period was 1am with no incidents reported.
Overnight (12–6 AM) saw 4 incidents, morning (6 AM–12 PM) had 13, afternoon (12–6 PM) had 15, and evening (6 PM–12 AM) had 12. Afternoon was the busiest period overall.
Tuesdays in Bellingham typically average 42 incidents. Yesterday's total of 44 is 2 above that 8-week average (5% higher).
How Does This Compare?
The 7-day rolling average is 30.9 incidents per day, above the 30-day average of 27.7 — suggesting a busier-than-normal stretch.
Key Patterns
30-Day High: 44 Incidents
Today's 44 incidents is the highest single-day count in the past 30 days. The 30-day average is 28 per day — today is 57% above that baseline. Prior to today, the last time the count was this high was 35 days ago.
This Week Is Pacing Higher Than Last
Through Tuesday (2 days), this week has recorded 74 incidents — 23% more than the 60 reported at the same point last week. If the pace holds, the week could finish well above last week’s total.
Traffic & Vehicles Up 64% This Week
Traffic & Vehicles incidents have risen sharply: 23 in the past 7 days compared to 14 the prior 7 days — a 64% increase. Today alone saw 3 traffic & vehicles incidents.
Full Incident Log
This log contains all 44 incidents reported to the Bellingham Police Department on Tuesday, January 20th, 2026. Published Wednesday, January 21st, 2026.
Get the daily briefing
Free, every morning.