LAKE GOODWIN — Police are investigating a July 4 assault near Lake Goodwin that sent an 18-year-old Arlington man to a Seattle hospital with head injuries.
The assault is being investigated as potential malicious harassment because racial comments allegedly were made during the confrontation, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. The injured man is black; his attackers reportedly are white.
Information was still being gathered Wednesday and many details remained sketchy. No arrests had been made.
A dispute reportedly turned violent Monday night during a party in the 14600 block of 58th Ave. NW.
Witnesses said the man was getting ready to leave and made a comment that some of the women at the party liked him, sheriff’s office spokeswoman Rebecca Hover said.
Some men at the party became upset with the victim, Hover said.
The men, believed to be in their late teens and early 20s, chased the victim. They reportedly attacked him and struck him on the head with a rock, she said.
According to reports, “they also made racist comments and used the N-word,” Hover said.
The victim left the party. Later he sought medical attention for his head injury. Investigators were told the man’s skull was fractured.
He was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.
The victim’s father reported the incident to authorities on Tuesday morning.
“We’re told he is recovering and doing well,” Hover said.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
