News - Local News - On Patrol

POSTED: Tuesday, Jun. 23, 2009

Car prowl in Bellingham turns into high-speed chase, 2 arrested

Chase ends at Lake Samish Park, 3rd man still at large

BELLINGHAM — A high-speed chase that began with a confrontation in the Best Buy parking lot Monday evening, June 22, came to an end in Lake Samish Park when the fleeing car ran into a dead end.

The chase began when one of the suspects was interrupted while breaking into a parked car in the Best Buy parking lot on Meridian Street. After being confronted, the suspect got into another car with the stereo he had just stolen and drove off, said Mark Young, Bellingham Police Department spokesman.

The caller reported the license plate number to police at 5 p.m., and the car was spotted a few minutes later on southbound Interstate 5 near the Lakeway Drive exit. Officers attempted to pull over the car at roughly 5:14 p.m., and the pursuit began, Young said.

Speeds reached 80 mph on the freeway. At one point, the car exited the freeway, running three stop signs and exceeding 50 mph in a 35 mph zone, Young said. The car eventually stopped at a dead end in Lake Samish Park at 5:23 p.m. Two people got out and ran.

The driver, 16, stayed in the car. He was arrested on suspicion of eluding, second-degree vehicle prowl, driving under the influence and driving without a license, Young said.

One passenger, 16, was found by a police dog and arrested on suspicion of second-degree malicious mischief, second-degree vehicle prowl, third-degree theft, second-degree possession of stolen property and third-degree possession of stolen property. He was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure for minor scrapes to the face, Young said. No other injuries resulted from this chase.

The third passenger was not found Monday night.

Tuesday morning police received a report of a man, Valentine Solano, 20, walking down the street near Lake Samish wearing makeshift clothing, Young said.

Solano admitted to being in the car during the chase and running from the police. He told police he had been hiding in the bushes near the area the car had stopped Monday night, Young said.

Solano was arrested on suspicion of second-degree possession of stolen property, third-degree possession of stolen property and obstructing. .