Man turns stolen car into oncoming traffic in attempt to flee, Bellingham police say
A man in a stolen Ford Mustang allegedly drove into oncoming traffic, crashed into some rocks and fled into the woods to evade police Wednesday, Aug. 13.
The Bellingham Police Department arrested James Albert Ivie, 32, Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of possessing a stolen vehicle, attempting to elude police and second-degree malicious mischief, Lt. Claudia Murphy told the Bellingham Herald in an email.
Officers responded to a call reporting the Mustang stolen at 8:31 a.m. Wednesday morning, Murphy wrote. Around 11 a.m. that same day, police found the car being driven near Bakerview Road and Meridian Street. The driver turned onto James Street and made a U-turn into oncoming traffic, according to Murphy.
The driver sped away from an officer attempting to initiate a traffic stop at a high rate of speed, endangering pedestrians, Murphy wrote. After crashing the car into the rocks at the intersection of James Street and Foothills Circle, Ivie reportedly ran into the woods. The damage to the car totaled an estimated $1,350.
Officers spotted Ivie in a neighborhood where he ducked out of sight and pretended fix a car to evade police, according to Murphy. One officer stopped to speak with Ivie and another officer from whom Ivie fled identified him, Murphy wrote.
Police booked Ivie at Whatcom County Jail where he remains in custody, according to jail booking logs.
.jpeg)