MAPLE FALLS, Wash. — The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) issued a statement today, October 19th, regarding investigations that led to the arrest of a man on charges resulting from 2 separate incidents involving weapons.
According to the statement, on October 17th around noon, WCSO Deputies responded to a report of a road rage incident involving a man that reportedly fired a weapon from a vehicle in the 6000 block of S Pass Road.
The victim told deputies that he was approaching a 4-way intersection at Golden Valley Drive and Shamrock Road when a vehicle cut him off and continued to drive slowly while in front of him.
The victim said the driver then yelled at him and the victim responded by flipping off the subject. The vehicle slowed to a stop and the victim passed it and continued northbound on Kendall Road. The victim observed the vehicle catching up at a high rate of speed.
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Click for more informationThe victim turned east on S Pass Road, stopped and exited the vehicle. The subject followed and slowly drove past him as they yelled at each other.
The subject then stopped 30 to 40 yards away. When turning to get back into his vehicle, the victim heard a single gunshot and could see the subject leaning out of the driver’s window pointing a handgun at him and threatening him. The subject then drove off and the victim called 911 from a nearby residence.
The victim told deputies he did not know the the subject.
Later, about 4pm the same day, deputies responded to a report of an assault by a family member. The victim reported that earlier that day family members were arguing. The disagreement escalated and and a family member retrieved a semi-automatic pistol from a safe and shot it twice out the front door of the residence, then pointed the gun at another family member and threatened to shoot her. He then pushed her, causing her to fall. He then put the gun to her head and threatened to kill her before leaving the residence.
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Click for more informationThe family member who took the pistol was identified as Paul Manuel Pimentel, Jr, age 18 and of Maple Falls.
While investigating the domestic assault, deputies learned information that lead them to believe that Pimentel was the subject in the drive-by shooting case. On October 18th, deputies presented the drive-by victim with a photo lineup and the victim picked Pimentel’s photo, identifing him as the driver who pointed the handgun at him.
On October 18th around 3pm, Pimentel turned himself in at the Sheriff’s Office and was booked without incident. The statement said probable cause for Pimentel’s arrest was established for the following crimes.
- drive-by shooting
- 1st degree assault
- felony harassment
- 1st degree assault – domestic violence
- felony harassment – domestic violence
Pimentel was scheduled to make a preliminary appearance in Whatcom County Superior Court the afternoon of October 19th in 2 separate cases related to the 2 incidents.