Whatcom County shooting victim reportedly offers to change his story for $150K
A Whatcom County man who was reportedly shot last summer in an incident revolving around pitbull puppies, allegedly offered to change his account of events for $150,000.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office booked Wade Ray Dickerson, 55, into Whatcom County Jail on Thursday, Feb. 17, on suspicion of receiving a bribe by a witness.
Dickerson was hospitalized after reportedly being shot July 17 by Scott Richard Baker, 53, after a disagreement over pitbull puppies.
On Jan. 29, deputies received a call from Baker’s mother stating that Dickerson had called her on Jan. 10 while he was at Whatcom County Jail, Whatcom County Superior Court documents show.
Deputies listened to a recording of the six-minute phone call and heard Dickerson tell Baker’s mother that Baker did not shoot him, documents state. The mother repeatedly told Dickerson to tell law enforcement, but there were no threats nor mention of money, according to documents.
The mother reported that Dickerson called her a second time on Jan. 29 and told her that he would say that Baker had not shot him if she paid him $150,000, documents state. Dickerson reportedly said he would give her time to consider and call back on Feb. 2.
On Feb. 3, deputies learned that Dickerson had called again and asked to go to breakfast to discuss the money, documents state, but there was no meeting.
Deputies spoke to Dickerson, who admitted making the calls and asking for $150,000, but he said it was because he was owed the money “because of what Scott did to him,” documents state. He also denied offering to say that Baker had not shot him.
Dickerson reportedly told deputies that Baker had told him in November when both were in the medical unit at the jail that Baker was sorry and to ask his mother for money, documents state.
Court records show Dickerson served 60 days of a 364-day sentence after he was convicted of harassment for a Sept. 19 incident in which he threatened a deputy. But jail records show Dickerson and Baker were not housed together during that time, documents state.
Charges for receiving a bribe by a witness were filed Feb. 4, court records show, and a warrant was issued for Dickerson’s arrest on Feb. 7.
Baker, who has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, attempting to elude police and hit and run, is awaiting a competency hearing on Feb. 24, court records show.
