The man accused of eluding police, waving around an ax at police and causing over $100,000 of damage to Bellis Fair Mall plead not guilty to charges Friday. David Anderson, 32, was given a $500,000 bail at his March 18 court appearance.
Anderson was arrested after he led police on a chase starting on Interstate 5 on March 12.
Around 10:30 p.m., a Washington State Patrol trooper attempted to pull a Ford Ranger over for suspicion of driving under the influence. The vehicle refused to stop and the trooper requested assistance and got permission to pursue. Bellingham Police joined the pursuit on Bakerview Road.
The Ranger was driving erratically, speeding, making illegal U-turns, passing cars in a dangerous manner and running red lights, according to probable cause documents.
The pursuit stretched from north Bellingham to downtown. An officer on duty was parked near Cornwall Avenue and East Champion Street with his lights on. The Ranger slowed down and Anderson reached out of the open window with an ax and swung it at the officer’s vehicle. The police vehicle was hit multiple times and caused several thousand dollars damage, according to court documents.
The officer quickly drove away after one of the ax swings hit the driver’s side window. Anderson then started driving toward Ohio Street.
The Ranger drove straight at a patrol car, and then narrowly swerved to miss the patrol car, leaned out of the window and started to swing the ax. This time, Anderson narrowly missed the patrol vehicle. Anderson did the exact same thing to a second patrol car — drove straight at the patrol car, swerved last minute and swung the ax, narrowly missing the vehicle and the officer.
Officers attempted to stop Anderson with spike strips, but he avoided them and narrowly struck another patrol car.
Anderson drove toward Lakeway Drive from Ellis Street, where he hit a vehicle waiting to turn.
Anderson got back on I-5 and once again avoided hitting spike strips. He got off the freeway and drove into the parking lot of Bellis Fair Mall and continued to drive “directly and intentionally into the front doors of the food court,” causing extensive damage, according to court documents.
Anderson used the ax to smash the glass doors open and entered the mall. He is accused of smashing glass doors, windows and accessories to more than 11 stores, restaurants and businesses. Officers on scene attempted to get Anderson to drop the ax using different de-escalation and force methods. At one point, he hid in a business refused to give up the ax.
Eventually, Anderson dropped the ax and was taken into custody. While in custody, Anderson still refused to cooperate and while being evaluated by Bellingham Fire Department, Anderson kicked a gurney at a firefighter. The gurney struck the firefighter in the knee and knocked him backward.
