BELLINGHAM - Three suspected heroin dealers were arrested in Bellingham over the weekend, after an investigation that started in early July.
The alleged ringleader of the trio, Douglas E. Timberlake, 60, is accused of dealing drugs out of a green "boarding house" at 1823 Alabama Street, across from Kids Korner Child Care.
Four people - including one in the past month - have died of heroin overdoses at the house in recent years, said Whatcom County Undersheriff Jeff Parks.
A drug task force led by the sheriff's office set up monitored drug deals with Timberlake in July. They bought heroin from two surrogate dealers, 55-year-old Lawrence C. Serry and 56-year-old Susan L. Figaro, totaling more than 10 grams of the drug, Parks said.
Timberlake and Serry were booked into jail at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, after deputies pulled them over for a traffic stop. Timberlake had 26 grams (0.9 ounces) of heroin on him, Parks said. He's accused of four counts of delivery of heroin and two counts of possession of heroin with intent to distribute. Deputies also got a search warrant and found 1.7 grams of heroin in Timberlake's bedroom.
Kids Korner has been in business across the street for more than 20 years. An employee who picked up the phone at the day care Tuesday said the people who come and go at the house mostly keep to themselves.
"But everybody in the whole neighborhood knows what goes on at the green house," said the employee, who declined to give her name.
Figaro, of Burlington, was arrested a few hours after the traffic stop. She's accused of a single count of delivery of heroin. Serry, of Bellingham, faces the same charge.
Reach CALEB HUTTON at caleb.hutton@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2276.
