Archive for March, 2013

Police search near Lakeway Fred Meyer for source of possible gunshot


Written by | The Bellingham Herald | March 29, 2013

By Caleb Hutton

Police didn’t find a gun after two witnesses reported hearing a single gunshot — or something that sounded like a gunshot — ringing from the woods south of the Lakeway Fred Meyer on Friday morning, March 29.

For exactly one hour, police scoured the scattered tent camps in the wooded area west of Lincoln Street, starting at 11:44 a.m., said Bellingham Police Sgt. Ken Brown. A U.S. border helicopter helped the cops to spy into difficult-to-reach encampments.

Police found nothing suspicious.

Here’s the Twitter feed as it happened.

Police still aren’t sure if the witnesses heard a real gunshot, a car backfiring or something else.

Freeway traffic wasn’t interrupted.

Brown noted one woman in the woods was arrested on an unrelated misdemeanor warrant.

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Cyclist, 16, struck by car in Ferndale


Written by | The Bellingham Herald | March 28, 2013

A 16-year-old cyclist suffered injuries not considered life threatening when a car struck him at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 28, according to Ferndale police.

He was pedaling north — on the sidewalk, on the wrong side of the road and without a helmet on — when he darted out in front of a southbound sedan in the 5700 block of Third Avenue in Ferndale, said Police Lt. Bill Hatchett.


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He was taken to St. Joseph hospital by ambulance as a precaution.

The woman driving the car won’t be cited.

Here’s some more info borrowed from our @BhamCrime Twitter feed.

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Police task force makes 4 arrests of interest


Written by | The Bellingham Herald | March 28, 2013

Police unexpectedly stumbled upon a cache of heroin, stolen property and cash this week while arresting a man on a warrant.

Bellingham police spokesman Mark Young sent this note:

Members from the Neighborhood Anti Crime Team (NACT) served a search warrant in the 1100 block of Birch Bay Lynden Road on Wednesday afternoon (3.27.2013). Esequiel Casarez, 37, was booked for a felony DOC warrant. During the search warrant 1/2 pound of suspected heroin, cash and approximately 90 items suspected in a slew of residential burglaries in the Bellingham area was also recovered. Officers are still going through the property to attempt to match it to reported burglaries. More charges are pending. In addition, two other subjects were arrested for warrants at the same location. Jacquie L. Johnson, 34 for DWLS 3 and Jose Guebara, 32 for Probation Violation.

One day earlier, the same task force arrested a teenage boy suspected of tagging under the moniker of the “Sunset Crew,” causing an estimated $3,000 damage to businesses and other property.

Here’s another note from Young:

On the 26th of March, the officers from the NACT arrested a 14 year old juvenile male from his home in the 3800 block of Pincher St. in connection to about 15 graffiti cases. The subject arrested is cooperating with police and this investigation continues as it may involved cases in the Whatcom County area as well.

His name wasn’t released (and our policy would prevent us from publishing a juvenile’s name, anyway). Police didn’t release details about how the boy emerged as a suspect.

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A Cadillac crash, an accidental pelting and more in the Blaine police blotter


Written by | The Bellingham Herald | March 26, 2013

Text courtesy of the Blaine Police Department, with minor edits for style.

Wednesday, March 20

1:45 p.m. A police officer driving on Peace Portal had his patrol car pelted by rocks thrown up by a passing vehicle. This was strange since both cars were driving on a clear paved street and even the roadway shoulders were gravel free. The mystery was resolved a couple of minutes later when the passing car was found disabled nearby. It turned out that the patrol car had been struck by the passing car’s loosened lug nuts flying off its wheel. The driver realized that something was seriously amiss just in time to stop before the wheel itself flew off into traffic. Officers searched for and recovered three of the projectiles, and delivered them to the mechanic who was making repairs.

8:40 p.m. A Blaine business on D Street called to report receiving counterfeit U.S. currency after a customer attempted to pay for purchased goods. An officer arrived and contacted the customer, a business person from British Columbia who advised that she had received the fake U.S. $50 bill from one of her customers a week earlier. The officer confiscated the paper and forwarded it to the U.S. Secret Service.

Thursday, March 21

12:45 a.m. A patrol officer found a transient camped out on the porch of a closed store at about 1 a.m. on a freezing night. The gentleman was not subject to any criminal restraints. Police gave him a courtesy ride to the Lighthouse Mission to save him from spending the rest of the night in the frigid dark.

5:08 p.m. A patrol officer observed a vehicle fail to yield for a Blaine School District bus which had stopped on Peace Portal Drive with its warning lights flashing and was discharging students. The officer stopped the violator and listened to his explanation that he was from out of state and did not know that he needed to stop for standing school buses displaying flashing lights and stop signs. The motorist was educated with a traffic citation.

Friday, March 22

9:45 a.m. A city employee reported that a door to a house on a Harrison Avenue was ajar, although there was no one around the place. Police officers responded and checked the property. There was no fresh damage or indications of any crime except neglect. The door was closed again, the officers returned to patrol, and the neighborhood tabby cat returned to the sunny patch of porch which it had sulkily abandoned when the cops arrived.

9:52 a.m Blaine officers investigating a case involving a stolen vehicle left at a hit and run scene stopped a vehicle on the freeway on-ramp at the south end of Blaine. The driver of the stopped car fled on foot into a nearby industrial area. Police and U.S. Border Patrol agents established a perimeter and U.S. Border Patrol agents tracked the suspect to his hiding place in a commercial dumpster behind a business. The 24-year-old Birch Bay resident was also wanted by the sheriff’s office for investigation on a burglary, and was booked into jail.

11:26 a.m. A resident on Mitchell Street called police to report that his vehicle was stolen from his home overnight. The remains of his 1992 Cadillac were found abandoned and destroyed by a collision with a tree near the freeway off ramp to the truck route. Police are investigating.

1:07 p.m. A resident on Peace Portal Drive reported that her bicycle had been stolen overnight. The tan REI Novara-brand Safari-model mountain bike is valued at several hundred dollars. Police are investigating.

2:02 p.m. Police were asked to intercede in a possible truancy case involving two high school students on Cedar Street. An officer got information that the kids might be at home, and found them there claiming they were sick. When Mom found out the kids were home she asked for assistance getting the teens delivered back to school. The officer was happy to oblige and the school was happy to have their customers back on campus.

8:17 p.m. An officer was dispatched to a business on 12th Street to take custody of two counterfeit U.S. $20 bills. The notes were discovered when employees were balancing their tills. Police took the bills and forwarded them to the U.S. Secret Service.

Saturday, March 23

11:10 a.m. A homeowner on a Rene Court was contacted by an older motorist who stopped to ask for directions. The gentleman appeared disoriented and possibly having breathing difficulty. The resident went inside for a minute to call for assistance but the motorist drove away. Officers searched the area for a blue newer Cadillac with a military veteran license plate and placed a welfare check request with neighboring agencies, but the driver and vehicle were not located.

2 p.m. A patrol officer attempted to stop a vehicle speeding 64 mph in the 35 mph zone on Peace Portal. The driver apparently tried to evade the officer by turning onto side streets, but was overtaken and stopped on Clyde Street. The motorist was arrested for reckless driving and negligent eluding, and released after signing a promise to appear for a mandatory court hearing.

Sunday, March 24

5:10 a.m. U.S. Customs and Border Protection called and requested Blaine Police interview a disoriented driver on Second Street. An officer arrived at the Peace Arch Port of Entry and contacted a Bothell, Wash., resident who had gotten lost after leaving a grocery store near his home hours earlier. The man agreed to get some sleep at a nearby motel and wait until daylight to drive again, so as not to get lost. The officer escorted him to the motel to make sure he got there.

6:10 p.m. A sharp eyed cashier at a convenience store service station on D Street found a counterfeit U.S. $20 bill among the cash offered by a regular customer for payment. Police were called to the scene and interviewed the customer. She explained that the fake U.S. note had been received as payment at their own business in Vancouver, B.C., at some point in the preceding days. The bogus bill was impounded by officers and will be forwarded to the U.S. Secret Service along with information about its travels.

6:47 p.m. Police received a report of a red Mustang driving recklessly in a mall parking lot on H Street. An officer arrived within a minute and upon arrival the car had already left the area. There was smoke still visible from the burning tires when officers arrived.

7:10 p.m. Customers busily washing their clothes in a coin laundry business on Third Street found a credit card laying in one of the machines, and brought it to a police officer who was busily washing his patrol car in the nearby station parking lot. The customer was thanked, the card was impounded, and the owner or her bank will be advised of the recovery.

Monday, March 25

2:10 p.m. Officers responded to a report of two injured bald eagles in a Semiahmoo Development. The state wildlife agency was advised and a private agency responded to care for the birds.

7:15 p.m. A passerby in a commercial business parking lot on H Street noticed a car without a handicapped parking permit stopped in a marked handicapped stall. She mentioned to the driver that a handicapped permit was needed to use the parking place, but the man’s profane abusive reply made it very clear that education was not going to be effective at resolving the problem. The witness picked up the phone to call the police, and as she did so the driver and vehicle left the parking lot. Officers have a valid vehicle license plate on the gray Honda Civic and are looking to contact and identify the suspect.

7:46 p.m. A man called from Eighth Street asking for a welfare check on his child, who is the subject of a custody dispute and currently under the court ordered care of the child’s mother. The gentleman had no direct information the child was in harm’s way, and the court order prevented him from having any contact whatsoever with child or mother. An officer advised him that the police were not going to violate the court order on his behalf, and he should use his upcoming court date to air his concerns.

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14 arrested in sweep for Whatcom County habitual offenders


Written by | The Bellingham Herald | March 25, 2013

More than a dozen people were arrested Friday, March 22, in a sweep for habitual offenders, gang members and people with warrants throughout Whatcom County.

The sweep was an effort that involved 40 deputies, officers and agents from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the Northwest Regional Drug Task Force, the FBI, Homeland Security and the Bellingham, Everson and Sumas police departments.

The most notable arrest was that of Shayne Longozo, who allegedly was involved in a burglary earlier that day at a house off Chuckanut Drive. Detectives found his cellphone at the scene, and he was later arrested for investigation of first-degree burglary and robbery, and failure to appear for: methamphetamine possession, third-degree theft, third-degree possession of stolen property and reckless driving.

Here’s a list of the others arrested in the sweep and the charges they’re suspected of:

  • Robert Charles Ackerman, escape.
  • Jessie Amador-Bueno, failure to pay fines for first-degree negligent driving and marijuana possession.
  • Gerardo Garza-Iribe, escape.
  • Justin Starr Hill, escape.
  • Charles Duane Jimmy, failure to appear for arraignment for drug possession, and failure to appear for probation violations for minor in possession, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, second-degree assault and malicious mischief.
  • Michael William Joyner, escape.
  • Michael Mahaffey, escape.
  • Derek , escape and failure to appear for shoplifting.

Others who were arrested but weren’t the targets of the sweep were:

  • Ashley M. Carpenter, failure to appear for shoplifting.
  • Keith Jackson, second-degree driving with a suspended license.
  • James A. Jarboe, failure to appear for first-degree driving with a suspended license.
  • Kevyn Johannesson, probable cause for first-degree burglary, theft of a firearm and first-degree theft.
  • Molly Vanderhorst, failure to appear for third-degree driving with a suspended license.
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Man gets jail for racist outburst at Bellingham Walmart


Written by | The Bellingham Herald | March 25, 2013

By Caleb Hutton

BELLINGHAM — A Bellingham man has pleaded guilty to felony harassment for a racist and threatening outburst over a Walmart employee’s refusal to let him return a CD player without a receipt.

Herman Lee Barton Jr., 47, paced the floor of the Walmart, 4420 Meridian St., and stared down a cashier on the morning of Dec. 30, 2012, when employees told him they wouldn’t be taking the CD player back, according to court records. The cashier got scared. So the 45-year-old store manager came over and told Barton to leave the building.

Barton screamed at the manager, a black man: “I’m going to kill you, you (expletive) (racial slur), you disrespect me again!”

In a plea deal, prosecutors dropped charges that Barton spat in the manager’s face and swung his fists. He was eventually led from the store. Police talked with him down the street, where he was “quick to anger” when the officers brought up what had just happened at Walmart, according to the charges.

Prosecutors alleged he called a black police officer the same racial slur, then called a female officer another derogatory name and threatened to cut her head off with a razor.

Barton was ordered to serve three months in jail for making death threats. On Friday, March 22, one day after entering his guilty plea, he was released from jail because he had already served his time.

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Nurses to picket St. Joseph hospital during contract negotiations


Written by | The Bellingham Herald | March 25, 2013

By Zoe Fraley

Visitors to St. Joseph hospital in Bellingham Tuesday, March 26, will likely see nurses picketing about their current contract negotiations.

Nurses will rally from 1 to 5 p.m. in front of the hospital, carrying signs and giving out information.

Here’s what the Washington State Nurses Association says about the rally:

Washington State Nurses Association (WSNA), representing over 700 registered nurses at St. Joseph Hospital, will hold a rally to highlight issues critical to patient safety and nurse retention.

During difficult contract negotiations, the administration is resisting nurse input on patient care and staffing at the bedside. They have also proposed sweeping changes to sick time that would discourage nurses from staying home when they are sick. Nurses are speaking out about the potential impact to patient safety and calling on the public to support their efforts in negotiations.

Nurses are concerned that proposed drastic cuts to benefits will impact the hospital’s ability to recruit and retain great nurses. These changes will also have a profound effect on many nurses and their ability to provide health care to themselves and their families.

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Police dogs track suspects on opposite ends of Whatcom County


Written by | The Bellingham Herald | March 22, 2013

By Caleb Hutton

A burglary near Chuckanut Drive and an apparently random assault on Van Dyk Road, near Lynden, sent Whatcom County sheriff’s deputies scrambling Friday morning, March 22, to set up perimeters and try to track down a pair of suspects.

As of 11:30 a.m., it doesn’t appear anyone has been booked into jail in either case.

All of the info below came via police scanner traffic and remains unconfirmed. I’ve called the sheriff’s office to see if anyone can clarify, rectify or release any details.

(Sorry about the typo.)

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Booted gamers, an overstocked border crosser and more in the Blaine police blotter


Written by | The Bellingham Herald | March 20, 2013

Posted by Caleb Hutton

Text courtesy of the Blaine Police Department, with minor edits for style.

Wednesday, March 13

9:38 a.m. Blaine Police officers assisted Whatcom County sheriff’s deputies by providing backup at a county residence in which a man was threatening suicide with a handgun. The man was taken into protective custody without incident and involuntarily committed to care at the hospital. Case closed.

Thursday, March 14

12:53 a.m. A motel manager called police from Alder Street to report a guest and his friends making too much noise in a room. The manager asked police to accompany him to remove the folks from the premises. The guest and his friends were found to be loudly playing video games and partaking of the brew. The group left upon request and without incident. Case closed.

1:20 p.m. An unidentified person, possibly a school employee, contacted an officer who was on a traffic stop to advise of the suspicious older male near the elementary school area with no purpose. The person advised the man he could not be on school grounds and needed to go to the office. The officer checked the school facilities after clearing the traffic stop and the individual was nowhere to be seen.

Friday, March 15

3:37 p.m. A woman came into the Blaine Police Department to report a theft of a cell phone from her work place on Nature’s Path Way. The woman later received her cell phone the following day, but it had been severely damaged and was non-functional. A suspect in the theft has been identified and an investigation is under way.

Saturday, March 16

7:15 a.m. Police stopped a vehicle for speeding at almost double the speed limit (68 mph in a 35 mph zone) on Peace Portal Drive. The B.C. driver was issued a traffic infraction and warning about reckless driving, and then arrested for driving with a suspended license. He explained he was rushing to get a friend to the airport. Officers assisted in helping the driver get to the airport by calling them a speedy cab as the vehicle they were driving now had to be impounded as no licensed driver was available.

6:45 p.m. A Blaine resident called the police to report a suspicious occupied vehicle that had been parked in front of a home on F Street for the past half hour. An officer arrived and contacted the female driver. She advised that her parents owned the duplex she was parked next to, and she was just borrowing the internet Wi-Fi signal there. The officer found no other signs of criminal activity and left the lady to her surfing.

8:10 p.m. An officer responded to a residential neighborhood near the border to assist the U.S. Border Patrol agents after a group of five people entered the United States illegally. The officer cleared after the individuals were taken into custody and transported by the federal officers.

11:25 p.m. A security guard at a construction site on Mary Avenue reported a vehicle was parked on the roadway near the construction site and it has not moved for awhile. An officer contacted the Canadian citizen who was sitting in his vehicle. Person said he had gone shopping in
the United States and bought too much stuff so now he had to wait 24 hours before he could go back to Canada. Person agreed to wait in a different location with better lighting.

Monday, March 18

10:40 a.m. A Blaine resident called police from 12th Street to report that the convertible top on his car had been slashed with a knife, leaving a 6-inch-long rip in the fabric. It is unknown if the malicious mischief occurred in Blaine or while the driver was in Bellingham. It will cost about $3,000 to repair the damage.

1:14 p.m. A resident called police when he discovered someone had used a rock to break a window in a car parked in his driveway on Gleneagle Drive. A tool box and two brief cases were stolen. A neighbor remembered hearing a loud noise about 4 a.m., but no suspects have been identified.

5:26 p.m. A resident on F Street contracted police to report finding graffiti spray painted on his garage. An officer documented the damage and the owner will remove the eyesore immediately.

Tuesday, March 19

6:59 a.m. A passerby reported that a person driving a silver dual rear wheeled truck was stealing the orange traffic cones at a construction site in the 1600 block of Peace Portal Drive. An officer found the truck and suspect in the 900 block of Peace Portal Drive. It turned out to be a public works employee going to work picking up the cones and placing them near a new work site up the road.

11:41 a.m. Police were dispatched to investigate when a property owner found graffiti on the alley side of property on G Street. An officer arrived and documented the incident. The victim is not sure when the graffiti occurred, but it was possibly over the weekend.

4:25 p.m. Police were dispatched to Ninth Street to a check the welfare of an adult who made a threat of suicide to a family friend. Officers contacted the man and after an interview they transported him to the hospital for a voluntary evaluation.

5:29 p.m. Police were dispatched to a possible brandishing of a firearm during a gang confrontation at a residence on G Street. Officers arrived in the area and detained three suspects. They were separately identified by witness and victim. No weapons were found, and one of the suspects admitted to “possibly” pulling up his pants in an action which might looked like he was reaching for a weapon. Following an investigation at the scene officers released two adults and transported the juvenile back home to his mother. Harassment and drug paraphernalia charges will be reviewed by the city and juvenile prosecutors.

Wednesday, March 20

1:20 a.m. A police officer on patrol found graffiti vandalism on the back side of a city stop sign on G Street. The damage was documented and a service request was forwarded to public works for removal of the defacement.

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Man struck by Amtrak train in Bellingham dies


Written by | The Bellingham Herald | March 19, 2013

By Caleb Hutton

A man struck by an Amtrak train near Boulevard Park died of his injuries early Tuesday, March 19.

From the story in today’s paper:

The man crossed over a chain-link fence north of Boulevard Park at 10 a.m. Sunday as a passenger train clacked north at 35 mph, said Bellingham Police Sgt. Ken Brown.

From the gravel alongside the tracks, the man waved and smiled at the conductor. Then he leaned forward into the train’s path.

Police never saw him regain consciousness. Authorities doubted his chances at survival.

The man died at 1 a.m. Tuesday. He was identified as Joshua Paul Cutler, 34, a man with a long history of schizophrenia, according to the Whatcom County Medical Examiner’s Office. His death was ruled a suicide.

Legal records show Cutler had been a resident of the Bellingham area for more than a decade.

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