Why Bellingham police stopped chasing driver after he rammed two patrol cars
Bellingham Police are looking for a Ferndale man after he rammed two patrol cars with his RV, tried to hit two other officers, and led police units on a “reckless” chase from the Bellis Fair mall area toward downtown.
No one was injured, Lt. Claudia Murphy said in an email to The Bellingham Herald.
But police are seeking Marco M. Salinas, 37, on suspicion of first-degree assault, attempted first-degree assault and second-degree malicious mischief, in addition to other charges.
“We are asking Mr. Salinas to peacefully turn himself in,” Murphy said in her email.
Salinas was last seen driving a 20-foot 1986 Ford motor home painted beige or cream with two dark stripes along the side and back and a Washington license plate of ADD6289. It has a passenger-side door on the RV part of the rig.
“During the approximately five-mile pursuit, Salinas intentionally drove directly toward two more police officers, ran multiple red lights and nearly struck an officer who was out of his car. The pursuit was terminated once Salinas drove toward the downtown core, where there was likely to be significant pedestrian traffic, greatly increasing the chance of danger to the public,” Murphy said.
Murphy said the chase began as an officer saw Salinas’ RV at a gas station on Meridian Street south of Kellogg Road, where officers tried to arrest Salinas because he has several outstanding warrants.
But he got into the driver’s seat and started the engine, backed the RV into a wall, and then drove forward — ramming two Bellingham Police SUVs head-on and driving away, Murphy said.
Anyone who sees Salinas or knows where he is should call 911, the police tip line at 360-778-8611, or online at cob.org/tips.
