Latest news with #BellinghamPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Yahoo
Bellingham police K9 helps catch hit-and-run suspect
A man in Bellingham allegedly ran from a collision in a Fred Meyer parking lot on Friday, and police used multiple methods to find him, the Bellingham Police Department posted on Facebook. A K-9 named Stella was able to quickly track him down and found him hiding in a bush next to a Taco Time drive-thru, police said. Bellingham Police say they also deployed a drone to keep Stella and other officers safe The man was found to have allegedly violated two no-contact orders from previous crimes, the post said.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Yahoo
Bellingham sees highest rate of DUI arrests in 5 years
The Bellingham Police Department is sounding the alarm on impaired driving. In the first three months of 2025, officers made 114 DUI arrests, which is up from 99 DUI arrests at this time last year. It's the city's highest amount of DUI arrests in at least five years. 'If you choose to get in your car and drive impaired. That's a decision that you've made. Whether you're capable of getting in the car at that time or not. You didn't do something ahead of time when you were sober and could make that decision to change that,' says Lt. Claudia Murphy with Bellingham Police. In one recent arrest, officers report an impaired driver doing burnouts, hitting a parked car, and then crashing into a barrier, all without two front wheels. During a March 1 arrest, an impaired taxi driver, with a passenger into car, went off the road and became stuck on train tracks. The driver and passenger were able to evacuate before the taxi was hit by a train. As for what's driving the dangerous trend, that's still unclear according to Lt. Murphy. She tells KIRO 7 that the department has more officers and are directing more resources to patrols than they've been able to in years prior. Addiction could also be driving the number of impaired drivers. The department has seen a rise in daytime arrests. Monday is the day that officers have made the highest number of arrests, despite some assumptions that impairment might be higher on weekends. 'Part of it is when people are addicted to drug or alcohol, there is no particular day. They need the drug or alcohol all the time,' says Lt. Murphy. The Tacoma Police Department is also seeing a spike in impairment arrests. The department has made 141 DUI arrests this year, a 64% jump from the same time period last year. 'I've been doing this for 32 years, and we have been arresting people for drunk driving for 32 years, and before that, obviously, right? And we will continue to arrest people for drunk driving,' says Lt. Murphy. 'What has to happen is there has to be a societal shift.' Lt. Murphy tells KIRO 7, additional education and prevention services for youth could help create that necessary shift. She also believes in lowering the legal limit for driving from .08 to .05. A bill to change Washington's legal limit to .05 (SB 5067) was proposed in the state legislature this year. It stalled in committee after failing to pass the last two sessions.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Yahoo
Bellingham police say shots fired at home, vehicle were 'targeted.' What we know
BELLINGHAM — Police are saying an early-morning shooting on Thursday in which a two-family home on Muron Avenue and a vehicle parked at the residence were each struck "multiple times" by gunshots was a targeted event. In a press release, police said they are seeking "additional information on a sedan seen fleeing the area around 3:45 a.m. toward Wrentham Street." Meanwhile, a 50-year-old man who lives in one of the apartments in the two-family home struck by the bullets, at 25-27 Muron Ave., faces charges after police obtained a search warrant and found two 'unlawfully possessed" handguns and other materials inside his home. 'Climate, culture and reviews': Bellingham police chief aims to make department a "destination" for recruits However, 'none of the firearms recovered from the residence were used in the shooting,' police said in a statement. According to the release, police said they first responded about 4 a.m. Thursday to the intersection of Pulaski Boulevard and South Main Street for a report of shots fired. They did not find anything. Later that morning, at 9 a.m., police responded to 25-27 Muron Ave. after residents there reported what they believed were gunshot holes in the front of the home. 'Officers responded and confirmed that both the residence and a vehicle had been struck several times,' police said in the release. No one was injured. 2024 town election: Bellingham voters OK $750K override to pay for six additional paramedics Police began an investigation with the assistance of the Metropolitan Law Enforcement's police dog unit and the Massachusetts State Police. It was during that investigation that police encountered the 50-year-old man. He had an unrelated warrant for his arrest and was taken into custody. After obtaining a search warrant for the man's apartment, police said they found two 'unlawfully possessed" handguns, several high-capacity magazines, several rounds of ammunition and a 'Glock switch,' which is an illegal item used to convert handguns into fully automatic firearms. Anyone with information or security camera footage is asked to call the Bellingham Police Department at 508-966-1212, the anonymous tip line at 508-657-2863 or email detectives@ Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@ For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Bellingham police investigating after home, vehicle struck by gunshots
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Yahoo
Bellingham man, 57, dies after being struck by car while crossing North Main Street
BELLINGHAM — A 57-year-old local man died after he was struck by a car Tuesday night while crossing North Main Street, police said. Craig Spencer was transported by ambulance to an area hospital immediately after the 9:42 p.m. crash. He was later transported by medical rescue helicopter to another hospital, where he died, police said in a press release. According to the release, Officer Nick Dulchinos came upon the accident near 40 North Main St. and immediately began performing "life-saving measures" on Spencer, before paramedics arrived. Police say a preliminary investigation revealed that Spencer was attempting to cross North Main Street when he stepped into oncoming traffic. Creating a destination: New Bellingham new police chief explains his goals for department Spencer was struck by a car driven by a 21-year-old Bellingham woman. Police did not identify her, and she has not been cited. "There is no indication that the operator was under the influence, and it is not believed that their speed was excessive," police said. The crash is being investigated by the Bellingham Police Department and the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council's Crash Reconstruction Team. This story will be updated as more information becomes available. Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@ For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on X @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at This article originally appeared on The Milford Daily News: Bellingham man, 57, dies after struck by car; police investigating
