SWAT team activated after suspect allegedly threatened to shoot Whatcom deputies
Whatcom law enforcement activated SWAT to arrest a Ferndale man who allegedly threatened to have a shootout with police if they attempted to impound his RV.
Sheriff’s deputies first developed probable cause to arrest Wayne Eli Moses, 32, after he allegedly drilled a hole into a vehicle’s gas tank and stole the fuel from inside on April 3, according to Deb Slater with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies later responded to a report of an abandoned RV, which they determined belonged to Moses, in the 7300 block of Portal Way in Ferndale. Deputies marked the vehicle as abandoned and illegally parked on Whatcom County property, according to Slater.
Deputies left instructions for Moses that the vehicle would be impounded if it was not moved, Slater told The Bellingham Herald. Later that same day, deputies reported receiving information that Moses was threatening to use guns against the police, according to Slater.
Due to the threats of violence, SWAT was activated and around 7 p.m. April 17 law enforcement responded to the RV.
Moses followed commands to exit the vehicle and was taken into custody, Slater said. Law enforcement reported finding several firearms inside the vehicle, which Moses was not allowed to own, due to previous pretrial release conditions, Slater told The Herald.
Moses was charged with harassment for allegedly threatening to use firearms against law enforcement, along with second-degree unlawful possession of firearms, both class C felonies.
This story was originally published April 22, 2025 at 2:36 PM.
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