Seattle man in custody following I-5 race and foot chase in Bellingham
Bellingham police used a drone to locate a man suspected of driving recklessly on Interstate 5.
The suspect was first spotted by troopers with the Washington State Patrol (WSP) around 1 a.m. Sept. 17. The suspect was driving approximately 120 mph on northbound I-5 near the Old Fairhaven Parkway exit, according to Trooper Brad Tulloch, WSP public information officer.
Tulloch said the suspect was racing another vehicle, also heading north on I-5.
When troopers attempted to stop the vehicles they exited the highway at Lakeway Drive. One of the vehicles turned off all outside lights in order to escape law enforcement, according to Tulloch.
Bellingham Police officers in the area saw one of the vehicles turn onto Lakeway Drive and began a pursuit, according to Lt. Claudia Murphy with the Bellingham Police Department. The suspect, later identified as Gage B. Binz, 21, of Seattle, drove recklessly, running stop signs and red lights, before coming to a dead-end street behind the 1400 block of E. Maple Street and left the area on foot, Murphy said.
Officers found the empty car and launched an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) aircraft drone. A K-9 team also was activated to track the suspect, Murphy said. The drone was used to locate a human shape walking around the area, while the K-9 team tracked the scent from the abandoned vehicle to Binz, who began running from the scene. He ran into an officer on the perimeter of the scene just as the K-9 team caught him, Murphy said.
Binz was later found running through a parking lot in the 3700 block of Abbott Street, according to Murphy. He has been charged with attempting to elude a police vehicle, a class C felony.
Police have not publicly identified or arrested the driver of the second vehicle involved in the I-5 race.
This story was originally published September 19, 2025 at 1:51 PM.
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