A 35-year-old man was arrested August 21 on suspicion of rape and unlawful imprisonment that occurred two days prior in Blaine.
Arturo Osiel Valencia Barrera, 35, is being held in Whatcom County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail for second-degree rape, unlawful imprisonment and felony harassment, according to jail booking data.
On August 20, Blaine Police Department responded to a call about a sex crime that occurred in the 300 block of Alder Street the previous night. Police spoke to a woman, who told them that she was at her friend’s apartment on August 19 when Valencia Barrera, someone her friend knew, visited the apartment.
The woman told police that she had been asleep and awoke to Valencia Barrera sexually assaulting her, according to the affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Superior Court. The woman refused Valencia Barrera’s advances and tried to physically and verbally repel him, which he disregarded, according to court records.
The woman’s friend came into the room to help the woman, and Valencia Barrera left immediately. The woman later underwent a sexual assault examination at the hospital.
Valencia Barrera is scheduled to be arraigned on Friday, August 29.
If you or someone you know is affected by domestic or sexual violence, the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Services (DVSAS) 24-hour hotline is available at 360/715-1563 or 877/715-1563.
Brigid Collins Family Support Center, a Bellingham-based nonprofit working to end child abuse, can be reached at 360/734-4616 and brigidcollins.org.
Lummi Victims of Crime has a 24-hour helpline at 360/312-2015.
The National Domestic Violence Helpline operates a chat line at thehotline.org/help.
