Whatcom County law enforcement employs helicopter to track arson suspect
Whatcom County law enforcement have arrested a man for suspect of assault and arson after a chase that included the use of a helicopter.
Deputies with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of two people being pepper sprayed around 9:15 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 in the 1800 block of Vineyard Place in Bellingham, according to Deb Slater with the sheriff’s office.
When deputies arrived, they were told by the people who had been pepper sprayed that a man identified as Ryan Patrick Ford, 30, had attacked them. Ford had also allegedly set a vehicle on fire and was believed to be firing a gun, Slater told The Herald in an email.
Ford left the area in another vehicle before the deputies arrived, according to Slater. Law enforcement employed a marine helicopter to track the suspect’s vehicle.
As Ford was driving north on Noon Road, the Lynden Police Department was asked to help. At one point Ford allegedly drove into a ditch and intentionally rammed a Lynden police vehicle, according to Slater. Ford also struck another motorist on Hannegan Road, Slater said.
Ford was eventually stopped and arrested by authorities and has been charged with second-degree arson, two counts of second-degree assault and attempting to elude a police vehicle — all felonies. He also was charged with hit-and-run of an attended vehicle, a gross misdemeanor. He remains in custody at Whatcom County Jail.
Editor’s note (Oct. 1): This article was updated to include the suspect’s name and formal charges.
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 1:42 PM.
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