Whatcom County deputy injured in accidental discharge incident that closed Guide Meridian
A Whatcom County sheriff’s deputy was injured in what authorities described as an accidental discharge of a firearm during an arrest of an armed suspect Tuesday afternoon, Sheriff’s Office officials said. The incident blocked traffic on Guide Meridian north of Bellingham for several hours.
The deputy suffered “non-life-threatening injuries” and was taken to St. Joseph Medical Center for treatment before being released, sheriff’s office spokeswoman Deb Slater said in an emailed statement.
The suspect, a 52-year-old Blaine man, was arrested by Lynden Police and was to be booked at the Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of second-degree assault, second-degree malicious mischief and third-degree theft. No booking report was listed at 6:45 p.m., according to the jail website.
“Following the arrest there was an accidental discharge involving the recovered firearm, the circumstances of which are still under investigation,” Slater said.
The Bellingham Police Department will be investigating the incident, she said.
“Every day our deputies stand between harm and the community we are sworn to serve,” Sheriff Donnell Tanksley said in a statement. “While there is always a risk to deputies, events like today’s are unfortunate. We are grateful the deputy’s injuries are not worse, and wish them a full and swift recovery. We are thankful to our brothers and sisters in law enforcement who were so quick to respond to support our deputy.”
Tuesday’s incident began about 1 p.m. as deputies were called to help Lynden Police arrest a man who had brandished a firearm in the 8000 block of Guide Meridian and fled, Slater said. The suspect was detained near the intersection of Guide Meridian and Axton Road.
A WSDOT traffic camera at the Guide and Axton Road showed a police roadblock with a Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office SUV, a WSDOT truck and other cars blocking the road about 2 p.m Tuesday.
Normal traffic resumed about 3 p.m.
This story was originally published February 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM.
