High-speed pursuit on Hannegan ends in rollover crash and 1 returned to jail

LYNDEN, Wash. — Before midnight on Tuesday, June 25th, a Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputy reported he was in pursuit of a man, identified as Joshua John Vermaat, age 41 of Bellingham, who reportedly had escaped custody while at an emergency room that afternoon.

The deputy reported they were northbound on Hannegan Road around E Bakerview Road. Vermaat was reportedly running red lights and fleeing at high speed.

Approximate location of pursuit end

Other law enforcement personnel were advised of the pursuit and a successful tire spike was deployed in the area of Ten Mile Road and Hannegan Road.

Click for more information

It was reported that soon after a PIT maneuver was performed successfully ending the pursuit just south of E Wiser Lake and Hannegan.

Emergency medical personnel were dispatched to that location at 11:59pm. They reported arriving to find a single vehicle on its roof in the ditch with a single occupant needing to be extricated.

The PulsePoint EMS dispatch log service reported at least 1 patient was transported from the scene by a medic unit to PeaceHealth St Joseph Medical Center.

Click for more information

Hannegan Road was temporarily closed to traffic between E Pole Road and E Wiser Lake Road.

Vermaat was booked into Whatcom County Jail about 4am on Wednesday, June 26th, and charged with suspicion of attempted eluding and escape.

As of June 26th, Vermatt is a defendant in Whatcom County Superior Court where he faces the following felony charges across 6 cases dating back to October 2023.

2 counts of 2nd-degree burglary
Possession of controlled substance (amphetamine or methamphetamine) with intent to manufacture, deliver
theft of a motor vehicle
possession of a weapon (knife) by a prisoner
attempting to elude
2nd-degree identity theft
2nd-degree possession of stolen property

Vermatt has prior felony convictions for the following crimes dating back to 2002.