BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A 24-year-old Bellingham man was arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail on Saturday, January 25, 2025, charged with suspicion of attempting to elude police, hit-and-run of a parked vehicle, reckless driving, reckless endangerment, driving under the influence and driving while his license was suspended.
According to a statement issued by Bellingham Police Department (BPD) and an affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Superior Court, officers on patrol in downtown Bellingham shortly after 2am were alerted to the sounds of a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed, spinning its tires and sliding sideways (aka drifting) through corners. The officers observed a 4-door Mercury Grand Marquis driving out of control on Railroad Avenue from E Holly Street.
An officer positioned his patrol vehicle in an attempt to block the driver. Instead of stopping, the Mercury “recklessly swerved past” “at a high rate of speed.” After the officer turned his vehicle around, he reportedly witnessed the Mercury lose control and crash into a parked vehicle.
As another BPD patrol attempted to get the Mercury to stop, it instead fled in “reverse past both officers” and drive the wrong way on E Chestnut Street.
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He continued to flee, lost control of his car, drifted into the oncoming lane and crashed into the traffic barrier between Bay St and Granary Ave. With a heavily damaged car, the driver continued to speed away (70 mph in a 35-mph zone) on Roeder. As he was fleeing the officers saw both front tires fly off the car, one at a time. Even this did not stop the driver. He continued flee until he could no longer control the two front wheels and crashed into the railroad tracks at Roeder Av and Coho Way. [The driver] and his passenger got out of the car and were greeted by the pursuing officers. The passenger fled on foot, later caught by other officers. The driver got out of the car and was arrested. After a medical check and DUI processing, he was booked into jail.
– Bellingham Police Department (January 28, 2025)
Sando I Cosovic, age 24, was booked into the Whatcom County Jail. He currently faces the following charges in Superior Court.
- attempting to elude police vehicle (class-C felony)
- driving under the influence (gross misdemeanor)
- 2 counts of hit and run of an attended vehicle/property – damage only (gross misdemeanor)
- 3rd-degree driving while license was suspended (misdemeanor)
Court set bail at $25,000 bond or $2,500 cash during a preliminary hearing on January 27, 2025. Cosovic posted bail and was released from custody later that day.
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He was released???
The fix for this sort of thing is easy. Police officers should be allowed to “fire at will.”
No jail, no bail, and most importantly… NO RELEASE!
Attempting to elude capture with total disregard for others and the ball is set at $25k… people like this are a danger to society and need their freedom revoked.
Many thanks to the police for this apprehension! Your work is much appreciated. Too bad we still seem to have a revolving door for bad actors.