BLAINE, Wash. — Patrons and employees of nearby businesses were reportedly surprised to encounter Blaine Police Department employees outside the Blaine Police Station with guns drawn and shouting instructions to a subject being taken into custody.
On 02/26/2026 at approximately 4:56 pm, officers responded to reports of a brandishing in the 1000 block of Mitchell Avenue.
The victim called 911 to report that a man had pointed a pistol at them and was now chasing the victim in a vehicle. The suspect chased the victim around the city at a high rate of speed, driving recklessly and cutting them off at one point.
Officers located the suspect vehicle at the intersection of 3rd Street and H Street. Due to the violent nature of the call, the reported use of a firearm, and the officer’s prior knowledge of the suspect possessing a firearm, officers initiated a high-risk stop on the vehicle.
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Click for more informationThe suspect was taken into custody without incident. A loaded pistol was recovered from the suspect’s vehicle.
The suspect, 22-year-old Jonathon Leininger, was booked into the Whatcom County Jail for Assault 1st degree and Reckless Driving.
– Blaine Police Department (February 27, 2026)
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