Whatcom County shooting suspect arrested after high-speed chase

DEMING, Wash. — The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office arrested a suspect in a shooting after a 40-mile high-speed chase Thursday.

Deputies were called to a report of a shooting at a home in the 5400 block of Mt. Baker Highway in Deming around 4 p.m.

Deputies found a man in his 50s who had been shot in the chest. He was taken to PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham with life-threatening injuries.

Witnesses gave deputies the name of the suspect and a description of his vehicle.

About an hour later, deputies spotted the man’s vehicle near Acme and tried to pull the driver over, but he fled, and a chase began.

Deputies said they chased the driver down Highway 9 at speeds of more than 80 mph with the suspect driving recklessly.

When the driver turned west onto Park Road, deputies attempted a pursuit intervention technique, but the suspect avoided officers and turned back eastbound on Park Road.

The suspect eventually fled south into Skagit County on the Valley Highway. Another PIT was used by Whatcom County deputies, which caused the driver to spin out into a field.

The 53-year-old driver from Pierce County was arrested by deputies from Whatcom and Skagit counties.

No one was hurt. Two small puppies were found in the back of the suspect’s vehicle and taken to the Humane Society.

The suspect was booked into the Whatcom County Jail for investigation of attempted first-degree murder, felony eluding a police vehicle and possession of a controlled substance.

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