FERNDALE, Wash. — Lummi Nation Police Department (LNPD) officers were dispatched on April 24th about 9:45pm to a parking lot in the 2800 block of Haxton Way due to a report of a car versus pedestrian hit and run incident. They arrived to find the victim lying in the parking lot in pain and bleeding.
According to an affidavit of probable cause for arrest, the victim was able to tell the officers he had been struck by a dark colored pickup truck that then left the scene. A witness told officers about hearing a thud, watching a dark colored pickup truck leave the area quickly and then seeing the victim on the ground.
Officers were able to review surveillance video inside and outside of the business and said they could see the driver of the pickup make a credit card purchase and later got into the driver’s side of the suspect pickup prior to the incident. The suspect’s name was linked to a person with a residence in Whatcom County.
The next day, officers learned the victim had suffered broken bones and a possible head injury.
The suspect contacted LNPD the day after hearing they had been looking for him the night before. He confirmed being at the parking lot and that he drives pickup of the same make, model and description of the suspect vehicle.
On June 15th, the suspect, identified as Jose Rodriguez-Ramirez, age 44, of Custer, was mailed a summons to make a preliminary appearance in Whatcom County Superior Court on July 22nd. He was booked and released that day from Whatcom County Jail charged with suspicion of felony hit and run involving injury.
