FERNDALE, Wash. — A traffic stop for expired license tabs ended up with a Snohomish County man being booked into Whatcom County charged with suspicion of several felony crimes.
According to the affidavit of probable cause submitted into Whatcom County Superior Court by prosecutors, a Washington State Patrol cadet accompanied by a Field Training Officer (FTO) pulled over a passenger car with expired tabs on I-5 in the Ferndale area on Friday, February 9th, at about 2am. A male was driving and there was a female passenger.
During the traffic stop, the FTO observed what appeared to be narcotic paraphernalia in the car. It also appeared the driver was attempting to conceal something with his leg.
The driver said he did not have a license and provided a name to the troopers that was later determined to be false. A K9 unit from the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office was requested to perform a “sniff” of the vehicle.
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The K9 unit provided a “positive alert” for the odor of narcotics coming from the vehicle.
When asked to give consent to search the vehicle, the 2 occupants said they were aware narcotics were in the vehicle. They consented to body searches which uncovered an ID card with the name, Ryan Thomas Southwood, age 38, and a checkbook with a different name. The photo ID matched the driver and he admitted that he had given a fake name.
A search of the car was consented to which located the following in a backpack.
- debit cards for 21 different individuals
- blank Washington State ID cards and licenses
- a social security card
- other Washington State ID cards and licenses
- these included fake IDs with Southwood’s photo under 2 other names
- 2 fake IDs with names that matched credit cards in Southwood’s possession
- checks
- check books
- a card skimming device
Troopers learned Southwood had warrants for his arrest out of Burlington and Lynnwood where he has been charged with suspicion of 3rd-degree theft. Another warrant was found out of Skagit County Superior Court for unlawful issuance of bank checks. He has prior felony convictions for 2nd-degree assault and 1st-degree robbery.
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Southwood was arrested and booked into the Whatcom County Jail charged with suspicion of the following crimes.
- possession of a controlled substance
- 2nd-degree identity theft
- 2nd-degree possession of stolen property
- credit card factoring
- financial fraud
- criminal impersonation
Southwood made a preliminary appearance in Whatcom County Superior Court on February 9th when prosecutors asked that bail be set at $75,000 and the defense asked that he be released on his own personal recognizance. The court set bail at $7,500 bond or $750 cash.
As of today, February 15th, Southwood remained in custody at the jail. An arraignment hearing is scheduled for tomorrow.
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