Thursday night chase ends when man slams into Bellingham police vehicle and building
A man rammed an occupied, parked Bellingham Police Department patrol car, attempted to hit a second and crashed into a building in the Irongate neighborhood after leading officers on a chase Thursday night, July 9.
Neither the man nor any officers suffered any serious injuries, but the patrol car and the building each were substantially damaged, according to a news release on the incident.
Jeffrey Kurtis Moser was booked into Whatcom County Jail late Thursday on suspicion of attempting to elude police, reckless driving, first-degree assault, first-degree malicious mischief and resisting arrest.
Officers first attempted to stop Moser at approximately 9:30 p.m. after he was seen driving at a high rate of speed and failing to stop for a red light near the intersection of Texas and Verona streets, according to the release, but he did not stop and attempted to speed away.
The resulting chase lasted approximately 3.8 miles and five minutes through mostly residential areas of Bellingham, the release stated.
While attempting to flee, Moser drove directly into the path of an occupied police vehicle that had its emergency lights on, according to the release, forcing the officer to take evasive action to avoid being hit head-on.
Officers attempted a pursuit intervention technique maneuver to end the pursuit, the release stated, but it was unsuccessful, and Moser continued to avoid police, exceed the speed limit and run multiple traffic lights and stop signs.
Officers reported seeing Moser swerve intentionally across both lanes of travel directly toward another occupied patrol car that had parked off the roadway and crashed head-on into it, the release stated.
Moser was able to continue before he crashed into a building in the 2000 block of East Bakerview Road, the release stated, and his vehicle pushed halfway into the building.
Police attempted to call Moser out of the vehicle, but he refused to comply, according to the release, and officers went into the building to remove Moser from the car and place him under arrest.
Moser sustained minor injuries in the crash, the release said.
