DEMING, Wash. — A Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to do a traffic stop on a vehicle observed driving recklessly. Instead of stopping, the driver led deputies on a chase that ended with his arrest at the end of a logging road.
According to an affidavit filed in Whatcom County Superior Court, deputies watched a gold Subaru Forester driving recklessly eastbound on E Smith Road from Hannegan Road about 9pm. It was observed passing in no passing zones and reaching speeds of 80 to 85mph in a 50mph zone.
Deputies activated their emergency lights while attempting to catch up to the vehicle west of Noon Road. In response, the driver hit the brakes causing the tires to screech and made an abrupt righthand turn onto southbound Noon Road.
Pursing deputies activated their sirens and the Subaru turned eastbound on Mount Baker Highway at which point the driver began tossing items out of the vehicle in an apparent attempt to disable the pursuing WCSO vehicles.
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Click for more informationThe Subaru turned up a logging road and about 1 mile down the road came to an abrupt stop. The pursuing deputy stopped and began exiting the patrol vehicle when the Subaru began backing up at a high rate of speed and rammed the patrol vehicle. The deputy suffered minor injuries.
The Subaru continued down the logging road pursued by deputies until reaching the end when the driver fled on foot.
A K-9 unit tracked and located the driver. He was armed with a machete and threatened to kill the K-9. An hour after fleeing, the driver was taken into custody.
The driver, identified as Ryan Allen Getz, age 44, was previously identified as a driver who fled law enforcement on September 24th while driving with a person with whom he had a no-contact order, having an active warrant for his arrest and provided false identification.
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WCSO booked Getz into the Whatcom County Jail on October 1st charged with suspicion of the following crimes and outstanding warrants.
- violation of a no-contact order
- 2 counts attempting to elude a police vehicle
- reckless driving
- driving under the influence
- identity theft
- carrying, exhibiting, drawing a weapon
- 1st-degree assault
- 1st-degree malicious mischief
- intimidating a public servant
- 3 warrants for failure to appear in a case involving violation of a protection order
- warrant for failure to appear in a case involving 4th-degree assault
At the preliminary hearing, prosecutors requested bail be set at $500,000 while the defense requested Getz be released on his personal recognizance or on $10,000 bond. The court set bail at $250,000 bond or $25,000 cash.
As of October 9th, Getz remained in custody pending being able to post bail.
Getz has prior felony convictions for assault, violations of the controlled substances act, burglary, theft and possession of stolen property.