Traffic stop yields arrest related to alleged drug operation at Bellingham hotel
Bellingham police recently arrested a woman for the second time in four months on suspicion of drug-related crimes.
Investigators with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office arrested Kylie Doreen Wilkinson, 27, and Raymond Lee Robinson, 34, on June 10 after a drug task force investigation revealed a crack cocaine cooking station in a hotel room in Bellingham. Wilkinson was charged with the manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a Schedule 4 controlled substance. She made bail for the June arrest.
On July 3 Bellingham police officers pulled Wilkinson over for failing to signal and cutting into the oncoming lane of traffic, according to court documents. She gave consent for police to search her car, and officers found small plastic bags containing white powder that later tested positive as cocaine and crack cocaine. The bags ranged in weight from about 12.1 grams (0.4 ounces) to 1.2 grams (0.04 ounces).
Investigators also found drug paraphernalia in the vehicle, including similar empty bags and a cellphone that had communication indicative of drug dealing, according to court documents.
Because additional testing and warrants needed to be completed for the July 3 incident, Wilkinson was not booked into Whatcom County Jail at the time, as probable cause for her arrest needed to be developed.
However, she was pulled over again Aug. 11 for another traffic violation. Police noticed drug paraphernalia in plain view in the car. Wilkinson stepped out of the car to talk with police and later asked them to get her license out of the car, according to Lt. Claudia Murphy with the Bellingham Police Department.
When officers retrieved the license out of her purse, they noticed a bag of white powder in the same pocket, Murphy said, adding that when officers checked Wilkinson’s warrant status they discovered her outstanding warrants for the July 3 incident.
Officers received consent to search the vehicle and found plastic bags with suspected cocaine. The bags weighed about 4.6 grams (0.16 ounces), 1.07 grams (0.04 ounces) and 0.69 grams (0.02 ounces), according to Murphy.
Officers also discovered baking soda, which can be used to cook crack cocaine, a metal measuring cup with residue, $107 in cash and packaging supplies.
Wilkinson was arrested Aug. 11 and booked for the July 3 incident, as probable cause for her arrest had been established by then. She was charged with the manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a Schedule 4 controlled substance.
Wilkinson made bail again, but was arrested by Bellingham police without incident Oct. 2 after probable cause was developed for the Aug. 11 incident. She was charged with maintaining a vehicle for drug use and the manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a Schedule 4 controlled substance.
Wilkinson remained in custody at Whatcom County Jail as of Oct. 9.
A third arrest stemming from the June investigation came last month when deputies arrested Ashley Elizabeth Zaylor on Sept. 22 in the 200 block of North Samish Way. Authorities suspect Zaylor was renting a hotel room at the Baymont Inn in Bellingham and allowing Robinson and Wilkinson to reside with her, Deb Slater with the Sheriff’s Office told The Herald at the time.
Zaylor has been charged with two counts of possession/manufacture/intent to deliver a Schedule 1 or 2 controlled substance, a class B felony. She also was charged with knowingly maintaining a place of using or selling illegal substances, a class C felony. Zaylor is out of custody pending trial.
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