BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Law enforcement is looking for a driver who struck a Bellingham officer’s patrol vehicle while in a stolen truck Thursday night.
Bellingham police said an officer’s vehicle was struck after 11 p.m. on Meridian Street and Bakerview Drive.
The driver hit the patrol vehicle’s rear quarter panel, causing damage.
The officer was not hurt.
Police said Whatcom deputies had spotted the stolen truck further down Bakerview Drive, and attempted to stop it and arrest the driver.
The driver sped off but deputies did not give chase.
Police said the driver ran a red light and crashed into the patrol vehicle after narrowly missing two pedestrians walking on the crosswalk.
When the driver of the pickup struck the patrol vehicle, one of the truck’s wheels came off, and then the driver jumped out and ran.
A K-9 and its handler tried to track down the driver, whom officers said dropped articles along the way but he could not be found.
Police determined the pickup had been reported stolen earlier in the day.
Investigators are asking anyone who might know the driver of the stolen truck or has information about the incident to call 360-778-8611 or email them at www.cob.org/tips.