BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Recent arrests by Washington State Patrol (WSP) troopers and Bellingham Police Department (BPD) officers have resulted in seizing about 1,200 fentanyl pills.
According to an affidavit of probable cause for arrest, on July 9th, a WSP trooper stopped a white Honda Civic with no rear license plate or rear bumper southbound on I-5 at Slater Road. The Honda stopped and the driver provided the trooper with his driver’s license. The trooper said the driver appeared nervous and a foil, often used for drug use, was visible on the passenger seat and a silver briefcase was in the back seat next to a “tooter straw.”
When the trooper asked if he could search the vehicle, the driver agreed. When asked to step out of the car, the driver took off at a high rate of speed.
Troopers pursued the fleeing Honda which fled at a high rate of speed from Slater Road to Rural Avenue and continued to Wynn Road. The trooper lost sight of the Honda and then located it at the corner of Curtis Road and Marietta Avenue where it had crashed.
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Click for more informationThe driver was seen rummaging through the Honda’s trunk before fleeing on foot. He was quickly taken into custody by 2 troopers without need for force.
A search warrant was served on the Honda and 200 fentanyl pills and an untraceable “built” 9mm pistol were located in the trunk.
The driver, identified as Jeffrey Loren Eagleman, age 31, was booked into the Whatcom County Jail and charged with suspicion of the following crimes.
- driving under the influence
- attempting to elude a police vehicle
- unlawful possession of a firearm
- unlawful firearm
- knowingly possess controlled substance with no prescription
- knowingly possess counterfeit substance
Eagleman was released from custody on July 13th after posting a $100,000 appearance bond.
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Click for more informationIn a second incident, Bellingham Police Department (BPD) officers responded to an apartment building in the 1000 block of N State Street on July 16th due to a report of an assault. Officers found a victim with severe lacerations to the face and both knees according to BPD Spokesperson Lieutenant Claudia Murphy. They investigated and were able to determine the identity of a suspect.
The next day, officers patrolling in the area saw the suspect and took him into custody without incident. A search subsequent to the arrest located the following.
- a Glock P80 handgun with loaded magazine
- 1,000 or more fentanyl pills made to look like oxycontin pills
- fentanyl transdermal patches
- $2,912 in cash
The suspect, identified as Rene Pema-Drimay Nima, age 22, was booked into Whatcom County Jail charged with possession of a controlled substance, 2nd degree assault and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon.
As of July 20th, Nima remained in custody pending being able to post a $25,000 bond.
Our law enforcement teams do a great job!!!!
WTG cops, you rock!! Stay safe.
More excellent and determined work by our local law enforcement agencies. Thank you ALL for keeping us safe, getting these murderous drugs and their dangerous pushers off the streets.