He led 2 Whatcom law enforcement agencies on separate high-speed chases in one night
A 29-year-old man who led two Whatcom County law enforcement agencies on high-speed pursuits they had to terminate told Bellingham police he did it for the adrenaline when they arrested him early Friday.
Zackery William Harkness was booked into Whatcom County Jail Feb. 14 on suspicion of attempting to elude police.
Bellingham police attempted to stop Harkness in a silver BMW for a traffic violation at approximately 12:44 a.m. Feb. 8 near Byron Avenue, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
Harkness refused to stop, speeding away at speeds between 70 and 80 mph in zones where the speed limit was 25 and 35 mph, Murphy wrote.
Harkness’ BMW later hit 100 mph as he continued past Lake Padden, forcing police to terminate the chase after following for approximately 3.2 miles, Murphy reported.
Later that same night, Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies located and pursued the same BMW, before that chase also was terminated, according to Murphy.
Those chases weren’t the first time Harkness attempted to evade area law enforcement. Whatcom County Superior Court records show he was convicted Sept. 25, 2019, and sentenced to 30 days in jail after leading Bellingham police on another chase that reached 100 mph July 29 through northeast Bellingham.
At approximately 2:33 a.m. Friday, Bellingham Police spotted the BMW in the Winco parking lot with Harkness in the seat. Officers spoke to Harkness, who Murphy wrote admitted to being the driver in the two Feb. 8 chases and that he had done it “for the adrenaline and did not think he was putting anyone else in danger.”
Harkness was arrested without incident.
