BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The man accused of committing a racially motivated assault against a child in Bellingham has pled not guilty.

42-year-old Paul Bittner was arraigned Friday in Whatcom County Superior Court. Court documents state that a white male, identified as Bittner, punched an 11-year-old Black student in the face while he was on a field trip with Whatcom Middle School. He then allegedly pushed the student and made a racially charged comment.

The boy suffered a fractured tooth on his lower jaw and an injury to his nose as a result of the attack, which occurred right outside the Bellingham Police Department.

Bittner continued to use derogatory language towards African Americans when he was detained by Bellingham Police.

He’s charged with commission of a hate crime, a class-C Felony and 2nd-degree assault with substantial bodily harm, a class-B Felony. Bittner’s status hearing is scheduled for July 17. He remains at the Whatcom County Jail on $500,000 bail.

City leaders have since condemned the attack and encourage the public to report any incidents of bias in the community.