Ferndale man allegedly steals classic car and starts high-speed chase near Blaine
A 28-year-old Ferndale man was arrested Sunday, April 19, after he allegedly stole a classic 1969 car and led Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies on a high-speed chase.
Nicholas Mackenzie Bailey was arrested on suspicion of theft of a motor vehicle, possession of a stolen vehicle, second-degree assault, two counts of hit and run of an attended vehicle and felony eluding, according to Monday afternoon sheriff’s office press release.
At approximately 6 a.m. on Sunday, deputies were called to the 1000 block of Slater Road for the report of a vehicle theft. The homeowner was awoken by the sound of his restored black 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS being started in the driveway, and then leaving at a high rate of speed westbound on Slater Road. The Chevelle “was very unique” and was valued at approximately $50,000, the release states.
The car’s owner put information out to friends and on social media about the car being stolen. Approximately two hours later at 8 a.m., someone who had seen the social media post about the stolen car said they saw it at a residence in the 1900 block of Conifer Drive near Ferndale, and someone known as “Nic” was driving it, the release states. Numerous other reports came in that the vehicle was being driven around Custer.
A short time later, the vehicle’s owner told deputies he was following behind the stolen car in Custer. The owner said the driver of the stolen Chevelle had “rammed” him into a ditch when he tried to pin the car at the dead end of Stein Road, the release states. The sheriff’s office received a separate report that another driver also had their car struck by the driver of the Chevelle when it failed to negotiate a high-speed turn at an intersection, according to the release.
At around 9 a.m., deputies found the stolen Chevelle traveling at a high rate of speed on Birch Bay Lynden Road. Deputies attempted to stop the driver, but he fled, and a pursuit was started heading towards Blaine, the release states.
The Blaine Police Department assisted the sheriff’s office and tried to stop the Chevelle at Peace Portal Drive and Hughes Avenue. As law enforcement converged on the area, the driver spun out and stalled the car, the release states.
Deputies from the sheriff’s office, Blaine police officers and the Washington State Patrol troopers boxed the car in and took the driver into custody without further incident, according to the release.
The Chevelle received some damage during the incident, but was driveable and returned to its owner.
No injuries occurred during the incident, but the Blaine Police Department posted on its Facebook page that Bailey was taken to St. Joseph hospital “for further evaluation” before being released and booked into jail.
