Multiple law enforcement agencies in Whatcom County responded to a carjacking that started at the Canadian border and ended in Skagit County Thursday afternoon.
Canadian authorities were pursuing a stolen pickup truck that was heading southbound toward the Peace Arch port of entry around 1:15 p.m., said Jason Givens, a press officer for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, in an email.
The vehicle entered the port of entry at a high rate of speed and failed to yield to commands from CBP officers. The vehicle continued through the port of entry and hit another vehicle, Givens said.
The driver then drove into the secondary inspection lot at Peace Arch and failed to stop. The driver made a U-turn, exited the lot and drove across the grass median before ending up on Interstate 5, Givens said.
A Customs and Border Patrol officer was nearly hit at the crossing, said Brad Tulloch, a spokesperson for Washington State Patrol. WSP was notified about the carjacking at 1:30 p.m. The suspect had allegedly used a knife in the carjacking
As CBP marked units pursued the vehicle along southbound I-5, CBP helicopters were also used.
WSP troopers took over the pursuit after the vehicle failed to yield to CPD officers and entered Bellingham, Tulloch said. Stop sticks were used but were unable to stop the vehicle.
The pursuit continued along I-5 into Skagit County, where units based in the county deployed stop sticks near the Bow Hill Rest Area, Tulloch said. The vehicle was stopped by the use of a PIT maneuver.
The driver was taken into custody following the pursuit, Tulloch said. The vehicle was identified as being stolen from British Columbia and a machete was recovered inside the vehicle.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies and CBP officers assisted during the pursuit.
One lane along southbound I-5 at Lake Samish Road was blocked because of the incident, and reopened around 2:45 p.m., according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
A Cascadia Daily News staffer said she observed police and fire activity as well as a helicopter on I-5 at the time of the incident. She also observed a truck with shattered windows, with law enforcement surrounding the scene.
Annie Todd is CDN’s criminal justice/enterprise reporter; reach her at annietodd@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 130.
