WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance in locating a man suspected in several burglaries and is also wanted on a 2021 bench warrant.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) issued an advisory stating Johnnie August Rathjen is wanted in connection with several burglaries in eastern Whatcom County. He’s also wanted for attempting to elude a police vehicle after he recently fled from WCSO deputies who came upon him while he was reportedly burglarizing a residence.
Rathjen was last known to be driving a white 2003 Toyota Corolla with the Washington license plate “BQP3779.”
A bench warrant was issued in November 2021 in Whatcom County Superior Court after Rathjen failed to appear in court while out of custody under his own personal recognizance. He faces a felony charge of residential burglary in that case.
Rathjen is described as a white male with grey hair and blue eyes, age 61, standing 6-foot and 2-inches tall and weighs 230 pounds.
Anyone who has seen Rathjen or knows of his whereabouts or if there are other associated vehicles is asked to call the WCSO Hotline at 360-778-6663.