Shortly before 10pm last night, Bellingham Police report they attempted to stop a Ford truck going south on Guide Meridian for a driver’s license violation but it continued, disregarding the lights and siren of the marked police vehicle.
The Ford turned onto Squalicum Way, went up Seaview Avenue to Eldridge Avenue and headed west on to Marine Drive. Upon reaching Lummi Shore Road, it headed south until stopping in the 3100 block of Lummi Shore Road.
During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle’s speeds were low according to Bellingham Police spokesperson Danette Beckley. “Officers are always balancing the danger presented with the need to continue following a vehicle that is not stopping. The roads were dry, visibility and roads were clear, and speeds were low so the Officer continued to attempt to get the vehicle to stop,” Beckley said in an email.
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Click for more informationAccording to radio transmissions from law enforcement involved in the pursuit, they were preparing to use a PIT maneuver to force the vehicle to stop. But the vehicle stopped on its own according to Beckley.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Lummi Law and Order officers who had joined the pursuit assisted Bellingham Police as they took the driver into custody without incident. A female passenger was released at the scene.
The driver was identified by Beckley as Ronald D. Ballew, age 56. Ballew was booked into the Whatcom County Jail and charged with attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle and 3rd degree driving while license suspended/revoked. Ballew also had an outstanding Department of Corrections felony warrant. Ballew told officers he did not want to stop because he knew he had the outstanding warrant.
According to Whatcom County Jail records, Ballew remained in custody as of 9:30am today.
According to court records, Ballew has a history of misdemeanors, gross misdemeanors, felony violations of the controlled substance act (VUCSA) and, most recently, in August of 2015 he pled guilty to delivery of a controlled substance (heroin).