Whatcom woman allegedly tried to hit a man with her car in convenience store parking lot
A Whatcom County woman is suspected of attempting to hit a man with her car in a convenience store parking lot after she reportedly erroneously believed the man had stolen her son’s car and kidnapped his girlfriend.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office booked Bonnielee Franise Pat, 44, into Whatcom County Jail Saturday, Jan. 8, on suspicion of first-degree assault and DUI. Jail records show she was released Wednesday, Jan. 12, on $25,000 bail.
Deputies were called at 9:16 p.m. Saturday to the AMPM convenience station on Slater Road for the report of a disturbance involving shouting and someone’s car getting hit by another, according to Whatcom County Superior Court documents.
Deputies contacted Pat, who was under the impression the victim had stolen her son’s car and kidnapped her son’s girlfriend, documents state. But the investigation reportedly revealed the car actually was not her son’s and the girlfriend confirmed that she had not been kidnapped.
Pat told deputies that she had located and followed the victim, who had the girlfriend in the car, documents state. At one point the victim stopped and let the girlfriend out of the car, and Pat reportedly picked her up.
The victim then drove to the AMPM, parked the car and got out to speak to some friends who were in the parking lot, according to documents.
Pat drove into the parking lot and then nearly hit the victim, before hitting another car in the parking lot, documents state. Hitting the other car reportedly prevented Pat’s car from hitting the victim. The victim told deputies he was hit by an open door on the car that Pat reportedly hit and that the car had pushed him back, but deputies reported seeing no visible injuries on him.
Pat told deputies that she was driving too fast, did not have enough time or space to brake and that the ground was icy, impeding her efforts to stop, according to documents. She also said she did not intend to hit the other car and was not aiming for anyone.
But the victim and other witnesses told deputies that Pat had accelerated and aimed for the victim, documents state.
After hitting the car, Pat rolled down her window and started to yell at the victim, according to documents.
