Bellingham man arrested after fleeing, barricading himself inside a stranger’s residence

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham Police Department (BPD) issued a statement Friday, January 16, 2026, detailing an arrest in the northern end of the Columbia neighborhood. The 19-year-old suspect was already facing numerous felony and misdemeanor charges and was out on bail at the time.

According to the BPD statement, the man ran from BPD officers when they attempted to arrest him for violation of no contact orders and being in possession of child sexual abuse materials. According to the BPD press summary log and police radio dispatches at the time, this occurred about 12:30pm.

After fleeing officers on foot from Northwest Avenue and Lynn Street, a perimeter was established around the Columbia neighborhood. A K9 unit and an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) were brought in to assist in locating the suspect.

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Multiple witnesses called What-Comm 911 and advised officers on the scene about suspect sightings.

The suspect was seen entering a residence in the 2900 block of Victor Street. An occupant, who did not know the suspect, was inside. The suspect was said to have armed himself with 2 kitchen knives.

Our patrol officers got there, surrounded the house, and BPD Crisis Negotiators began a dialogue with the homeowner and the suspect. The homeowner came outside, unharmed, and we continued to negotiate with the suspect making attempts to de-escalate the situation and develop a surrender plan. Members of BPD SWAT were called to the scene with their rescue vehicle to assist with this apprehension.
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Negotiations continued, the male was not cooperating and began to get more agitated. A single less lethal flexible baton round was deployed, which had the desired effect and the suspect surrendered immediately without incident. He was taken for medical attention for a minor injury and booked into the jail for several felonies, including the violations of court orders, possession of child sexual abuse material, burglary first degree and resisting arrest. BPD Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) responded after the scene was secure to collect all relevant evidence.
– Bellingham Police Department (January 16, 2026)

The suspect, identified as Clardy Lee Cartwright, was booked into the Whatcom County Jail about 4:35pm.

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He was already facing the following felony criminal charges in cases dating back to 2024 according to Whatcom County Superior Court records.

attempting to elude a police vehicle ($15,000 bond posted)
2nd-degree rape of a child ($30,000 bond posted)
attempting to elude a police vehicle ($10,000 bond posted)
2nd-degree assault with strangulation ($50,000 bond posted)
3 counts violation of protection order following assault (same $50,000 bond)

The latter 2 charges initially came with a bail requirement of $150,000. This was reduced to $50,000 after Cartwright’s public defender filed a motion to reduce bail citing the lack of any prior felony conviction and, “The $150,000 bond set by the court on April 4, 2025 has been too high for Mr. Cartwright or his family to post.”

According to Whatcom County Jail records, Cartwright is also facing charges in Bellingham Municipal Court and Whatcom County District Court for violating antiharassment and no contact orders.

As of Saturday, January 17, 2026, Cartwright remained in custody at the Whatcom County Jail awaiting a preliminary hearing on the new charges.