Officer discharges weapon during arrest of man who rammed vehicle into patrol car, police say
A law enforcement officer fired multiple shots during the arrest of a Bellingham man following a report of a domestic disturbance on Tuesday night at Lummi Nation.
Officers with the Lummi Nation Police Department responded to the call in the 2900 block of Cagey Road on Tuesday evening.
Johnnie Cannon Hewett, 30, of Bellingham, had left the scene before police arrived but was located in a vehicle, and a chase ensued, according to a press release from Deb Slater of the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Hewett reportedly rammed a patrol vehicle around 8:30 p.m. in the 3200 block of N. Red River Road, and a Lummi officer fired off at least two shots in response.
Hewett fled the scene, while multiple agencies responded to assist in his capture. A Whatcom County K-9 unit was able to locate Hewett a short distance away, and he was taken into custody.
The officer who was in the vehicle received minor injuries from the collision but has been medically cleared, according to the release.
The investigation remains active with the Sheriff’s Office as the primary investigators, as the case has been declared an officer-involved shooting.
Hewitt was not wounded by the gunfire. He was booked into the Whatcom County jail on suspicion of attempted vehicular assault, attempting to elude a police vehicle and first-degree malicious mischief. He is being held without bail.
The Bellingham Police Department, Washington State Patrol, Ferndale Police Department, FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, King County Guardian 1 (helicopter) and the Bellingham Fire Department assisted in Hewett’s capture.
This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 3:13 PM.
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