CUSTER, Wash. — Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched about 3pm on October 18th to a residence in the 3000 block of Birch Bay-Lynden Road in Custer due to shots fired complaints.
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed in Whatcom County Superior Court, a resident at the address was reportedly “shooting a gun up in the air.” Deputies learned the man, identified as Joshua Daniel Burke, age 43, was the respondent on 2 no contact orders which prohibited him from possessing firearms.
Burke reportedly left the property in a flatbed truck eastbound on Birch Bay-Lynden Road. Deputies caught up with the truck and were about to conduct a traffic stop when the truck came to an abrupt stop. Burke left the truck and yelled at deputies that he had done nothing wrong. He ignored verbal commands given by deputies.
He reportedly returned to the truck and drove in reverse towards where deputies had taken up defensive positions but did not collide with their vehicles. He then drove forward, got out of the truck and walked to a nearby property. Less lethal impact munitions were used to gain compliance and take him into custody.
A search of his residence located “a large amount of weapon ammunition,” a pistol and a large-caliber rifle equipped with a bayonet.
As of October 30th, Burke remained in custody at the Whatcom County Jail pending being able to post a $20,000 bond or $2,000 cash bail. He currently faces felony charges of 2nd-degree assault using a deadly weapon and 2nd-degree unlawful possession of a firearm in Whatcom County Superior Court.
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“Shooting into the air” is a riduculous choice of words to use. Unless you’re shooting underwater, all shots are into the air.