Law enforcement were dispatched about 3:20pm today to a report of a lewd conduct report regarding a male in a car parked at a convenience store and it ended up with the suspect’s vehicle wedged between several law enforcement vehicles from multiple agencies.
Officials were still in the early stages of writing their reports at the time this story was being published but from radio transmissions it appeared the plates on the vehicle did not match the vehicle and the pursuit took place over about 10 minutes ending just east of Barrett Road on Main Street.
During the course of the pursuit, it was reported the suspect used his vehicle, a red Mazda pickup, to ram law enforcement vehicles.
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Click for more informationUPDATE: 8pm
Ferndale Police released the following information about the incident.
From the Ferndale Police Department
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On 10/26/2018 at approximately 1520 hours, Officers were dispatched to an AM/PM convenience store at 6890 Grandview Road for a report of a male masturbating in his vehicle in the parking lot. The reported license plate did not match the described vehicle.
Officers arrived and located the vehicle described and observed the man still exposing himself. Officers contacted the suspect who refused to open the door and exit the vehicle. The suspect then started his vehicle and attempted to flee from the officers, ignoring commands to stop. Officers began to pursue the vehicle as it traveled east bound on Grandview Road, turning southbound onto I-5.
Additional officers attempted to use spike strips at Ferndale Main Street on I-5 however, the subject slowed and drove onto the median to avoid the spike strips. As the subject continued south on I-5, an Officer behind the subject used a PIT maneuver to try and stop the subject.
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The subject’s truck spun however, and the subject used his truck to ram multiple police vehicles while trying to get away. The subject rammed and pushed police vehicles with his truck until he was able to continue to flee, continuing south on I-5 continuing to endanger the public and Officers.
Another Officer used a PIT maneuver again in an attempt to stop the subject. The subject again rammed and pushed police vehicles until he was able to continue to flee, this time disabling a police vehicle by pushing it into a ditch with his truck.
The subject then drove north in the southbound lanes, fortunately traffic had been stopped. The subject drove the wrong way on the Ferndale Main Street I-5 on-ramp, against traffic, and traveled East on Main Street. Officers were then able to make another PIT attempt, the subject’s truck spun around and he was then blocked in with three police vehicles. The subject continued to try and ram through the police vehicles as officers broke out his window and were able to secure the subject and take him into custody.
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The subject was identified as Ronald A. Worthen (08/13/1965). No officers were injured in the pursuit or arrest.
Mr. Worthen was later booked into the Whatcom County Jail on the following charges:
- Attempting to Elude a Police vehicle
- Assault 3rd x4
- Hit and run x4
- Driving while license suspended 3rd
- Indecent exposure
And three unrelated warrants from other jurisdictions.
This case is still under investigation, additional information and/or charges may follow.
