LYNDEN, Wash. — An investigation by Lynden Police and submitted into Whatcom County Superior Court explains how a car ended up in a living room in Lynden on June 22nd.
First responders were dispatched to the 100 block of British Columbia Avenue in Lynden about 8:20am, Wednesday, June 22nd, due to a report of a car having crashed into a residence.
According to an affidavit of probable cause for arrest compiled by Lynden Police and submitted into Whatcom County Superior Court by prosecutors, the first Lynden Police officer to arrive found a man and a woman, walking around outside with visible minor injuries. They reported to have been sitting on a couch in the living room when the car crashed through a wall and struck them.
Lynden Fire Chief Mark Billmire told Whatcom News at the scene of the crash that the 2 were transported via ambulance to PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
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Click for more informationThe officer found the driver of the white BMW sitting in the driver’s seat asking, “What happened?”
The driver, identified as Michael Anthony Martin, age 29, was able to crawl out of the vehicle and was treated by medical personnel at the scene.
A disposable can of compressed gas was located near the BMW.
While speaking with a Lynden Police Department investigator, Martin reportedly admitted to having just purchased the can and had “huffed it” (inhaling a volatile gas to get high) prior to driving and believed he had passed out while driving.
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Click for more informationThe BMW’s path was determined to have gone over a curb while eastbound on Grover Street, over a small tree, across British Columbia Avenue, into the yard of the residence and into the residence.
It was noted that Martin had a prior DUI conviction in Florida about 18 months earlier.
Martin was arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail by Lynden Police.
He is currently charged with suspicion of 2 felony counts of vehicular assault while under the influence and causing substantial bodily harm and a gross misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence.
He appeared at a preliminary hearing on June 23rd in Whatcom County Superior Court where prosecutors requested bail be set at $30,000 bond and the defense requested $5,000 bond or $500 cash. The court set bail at $7,500 bond or $750 cash.
Martin was released from custody on June 23rd after posting $750 cash bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned on July 8th.
Don’t huff and and drive kids, you could kill somebody.
$750?? Prior arrest for DUI, admitted to huffing gas while driving?? Hes charged with felonies and gets a whole bail of $750?? What is wrong with our courts?? He literally could have killed those people in the house and put a LOT of lives in danger. Slap on the wrist is all hell get. Its insane.
I bet if the injured were related to a lawmaker,this felon would still be behind bars.I know how I am voting for now on.Fed up with it.