Man suspected of hitting and kidnapping woman, then trying to elude Bellingham Police
A Skagit County man allegedly hit then held a woman against her will while leading police on a chase early Saturday through north Bellingham and Whatcom County.
Bellingham Police booked Blake Adam Tolonen, 34 of Anacortes, on suspicion of attempting to elude police, second-degree kidnapping and fourth-degree assault. Jail records show Tolonen is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Officers were notified by the victim at approximately 12:38 a.m. Saturday, May 7, that she had just been struck by Tolonen while he was driving her in a red Ford Explorer, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
The victim was able to tell the officers where she was, and police soon located the Explorer in the 3100 block of Meridian Street, Murphy reported. From their communication with the victim, officers believed Tolonen had hit the victim, then refused to stop the Explorer and let her get out.
Officers attempted to stop the Explorer, but Tolonen instead attempted to speed away, according to Murphy.
Police attempt to deflate the Explorer’s tires, but Tolonen swerved into oncoming traffic to avoid the spike strip officers had set, Murphy reported.
The Washington State Patrol joined the pursuit, according to Murphy, as Tolonen led them to Smith Road and then Labounty Road. It was there that a trooper was able to force Tolonen’s Explorer to a controlled stop.
The victim had a relatively minor injury from being hit by Tolonen, Murphy reported, while Tolonen was checked by medics after he complained of pain and was cleared to be booked into jail.
Tolonen was also arrested on a bench warrant issued Feb. 11 out of Whatcom County Superior Court for suspicion of possession of a stolen vehicle from an incident on Christmas Day. Court records show he also has previous convictions for assault, selling a stolen driver’s license, burglary, bail jumping, unlawful possession of a firearm and trafficking stolen property.
