State Patrol reportedly finds 2 men in Whatcom car with more than 100 fentanyl pills
The Washington State Patrol arrested two men after reportedly finding more than 100 suspected fentanyl pills in a car they were in and having one of the men speed off at more than 110 mph on snowy, icy Whatcom County roads.
Gregory Scot Fetsch, 33, was booked into Whatcom County Jail Friday, Dec. 31, on suspicion of unlawful possession of a firearm, third-degree assault, obstructing a police officer and resisting arrest. Jail records show he is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Gary Dean Aardema Jr., 40, was booked on suspicion of attempting to elude a police vehicle, DUI, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, obstruction of a police officer, resisting arrest and three counts of unlawful possession of a firearm. Jail records show he is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.
According to Whatcom County Superior Court documents:
▪ At approximately 1:10 a.m. Dec. 31, a trooper found a running silver BMW in the Bakerview Fred Meyer Parking lot with Aardema asleep in the driver’s seat and Fetsch asleep in the passenger seat. The trooper reported Aardema and Fetsch were “sweating profusely” and had a baggie with more than 100 light blue pills he suspected were fentanyl in Aardema’s lap.
▪ The trooper knocked on the driver’s side window and startled the two men awake, identified them and told them they were being investigated for suspected narcotics possession and DUI. He asked for the bag of pills, but Aardema refused, saying he didn’t want to touch them.
▪ While another trooper went to his vehicle to retrieve gloves to handle the pills, Fetsch exited the car and began to run away. A trooper gave chase, before Fetsch slipped in the middle of Bakerview Road. The trooper got on top of Fetsch, but Fetsch began to hit and choke the trooper and wrestle with him. The trooper returned punches to Fetsch’s face and managed to keep Fetsch from running away until Bellingham police officers came and helped arrest him.
▪ While searching Fetsch, the trooper found a loaded handgun, narcotics, drug paraphernalia and several IDs and access cards belonging to other people. The trooper who fought with Fetsch suffered a cut on his lip and bruising to his neck.
▪ While Fetsch was fighting with the trooper, Aardema attempted to drive off in the BMW, spinning out on the ice with the passenger door still open.
▪ The second trooper got in his vehicle and followed after the BMW onto Bakerview as Aardema drove off in the snow and icy conditions at speeds estimated to be in excess of 110 mph. The trooper ended the pursuit.
▪ The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office later found the abandoned BMW at the Ferndale Pilot gas station on Barrett Street. Troopers contacted the nearby Super 8 motel and found that Aardema was staying there.
▪ Troopers watched video at the motel that showed a woman who was staying in Aardema’s room carry two long-barreled guns out of the room and throw them in the trash. The woman later said Aardema told her to do so.
▪ Troopers and deputies set up a perimeter and called for Aardema and the woman to come out of the motel room, which they did, and both were placed under arrest without further incident. After receiving consent to search the room, troopers and deputies found more suspected fentanyl pills, more IDs and bank statements, one more gun and parts for two other guns.
Court records show Aardema and Fetsch each has multiple felony convictions and were not allowed to have firearms.
