Man arrested in Blaine after high-speed chase in classic car

A man was arrested and booked into jail after leading law enforcement officers on a high-speed chase that ended in Blaine.

At approximately 9 a.m. on April 19, Blaine officers assisted the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) in ending a vehicle pursuit. A black 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle with a decorative front license plate was stolen earlier in the morning from a location in Bellingham, and the driver took off after being spotted by law enforcement.

The suspect vehicle fled at a high rate of speed and failed to yield for the pursuing deputy. During the pursuit, a Blaine officer was forced to pull up onto the sidewalk to avoid a collision with the speeding vehicle, said a Blaine Police Department (BPD) spokesperson. A second Blaine officer attempted to deploy spike strips, but the suspect vehicle was traveling too fast for the officer to get into position in time.

The vintage car accelerated past the location of the Blaine officers, spinning sideways and out of control. The pursuit finally ended in the 2100 block of Peace Portal Drive, where the suspect was removed from the car by two Blaine officers. A sheriff’s deputy stepped in to help get the suspect under control so that handcuffs could be put on.

In addition to BPD and WCSO officers, Washington State Patrol and North Whatcom Fire and Rescue were also on scene. None of the first responders were injured during the brief struggle with the suspect, who received medical attention at the scene and was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital for further evaluation as a precaution.

The suspect was eventually booked into the Whatcom County Jail for felony charges including second-degree assault, attempting to elude a police vehicle, hit and run, possession of a stolen vehicle and theft of a motor vehicle.