The driver of a stolen vehicle rammed a deputy’s patrol car twice and led police on a chase Thursday evening, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect has been apprehended.
At 4:20 p.m. April 14, Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a stolen vehicle traveling near Henry Road and Kickerville Road in Ferndale, according to a Whatcom Sheriff’s news release. After deputies attempted to make contact with the driver of the stolen vehicle at the intersection of Slater Road and Haxton Way while stopped at a red light, the driver rammed a patrol car head-on. The driver then reversed and struck the patrol car again.
The driver of the stolen vehicle then fled the scene driving between 40 and 50 mph. Deputies pursued with lights and sirens on, then successfully deployed spike strips and stopped the vehicle in a Ferndale neighborhood.
The suspect, 27-year-old Jessica Shockey from Blaine, was taken into custody without incident and booked into Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of two counts of first-degree assault, attempting to elude police vehicle and third-degree possession of stolen property.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office said that an involved deputy sustained minor injuries.
Auto theft cases are rising countywide, the Sheriff’s Office said. A comparison between auto thefts in the months of January, February and March of 2021 to January, February and March of 2022 shows a 331% increase.
