BELLINGHAM, Wash. — On Saturday, September 27, 2025, a Bellingham Police Department (BPD) officer was conducting a theft investigation at a retail store on Bellis Fair Parkway when store staff advised that a person in the store was concealing items and fled staff when leaving. The officer followed the shoplifting suspect on foot and, when the suspect fled in a vehicle, followed in a BPD vehicle.
According to an amended probable cause affidavit filed in Whatcom County Superior Court, the officer followed the suspect vehicle without activating the BPD vehicle’s emergency lights and siren. The officer reported the suspect vehicle was “swerving and nearly caused a collision.” While preparing to make a traffic stop, the officer reported the suspect vehicle swerved and struck a vehicle while southbound on I-5.
The officer then activated the BPD vehicle’s emergency lights and sirens and initiated a pursuit of the suspect. The suspect continued south on I-5, exiting at the Lakeway Drive interchange.
Other officers joined the pursuit as it continued east on Lakeway Drive and then north on Electric according to law enforcement radio transmissions at the time. A pursuit intervention technique (PIT) resulted in disabling the suspect vehicle in the area of Northshore Drive and Dakin Street, approximately 7 miles from where the initial contact was made.
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According to the affidavit, the suspect provided police with a false ID. He “somewhat” matched the photo ID, but officers suspected it was a false identity. He was later identified as Tyler Craig Potter, age 36.
At the time of his arrest, Potter’s license was found to be suspended, and he faced the following felony criminal charges in multiple Superior Court cases in Whatcom, Island and Skagit County courts.
- 2nd-degree theft
- possession with intent to manufacture, deliver controlled substance amphetamine or meth
- attempting to elude a police vehicle
- 2nd-degree burglary
He now faces new charges in Whatcom County Superior Court of felony attempting to elude a police vehicle and gross misdemeanor driving under the influence.
As of October 17, 2025, Potter remained in custody at the Whatcom County Jail pending being able to post a $75,000 bond or $7,500 cash bail.
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