Joseph Warren, 42, of Bellingham, walked into the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) on the afternoon of March 24, 2022, to confess to a homicide of two women. Through a joint investigation, Bellingham Police and WCSO detectives quickly discovered this was not true and found the women alive and uninjured. Through interviews about these concerning statements made by Warren, detectives found out Warren suffers from behavioral health issues. Later in the evening, Warren was arrested for burglary and stalking after breaking into one of the women’s homes. He was quickly apprehended by officers who were in the area and booked into the Whatcom County Jail.
Warren has an anti-harassment order with one of the women and has violated the order three times in the span of 14 days in March. He has texted, called and visited her, all in in violation of the valid and served anti-harassment order. BPD officers arrested him via the summons process in each case.
On 3-24-22, Warren walked into the WCSO and wanted to confess to a homicide of two women. WCSO detectives got in touch with BPD detectives to discuss this case. BPD detectives quickly found both women alive and there was no homicide. It quickly became clear Warren was suffering from behavioral health issues after detectives spoke to the two women. No crime was substantiated, and Warren was allowed to leave, as there was also not sufficient cause for an emergent detention.
BPD detectives asked patrol officers to pay additional attention to the area where person who has the anti-harassment order with Warren lives. Shortly after 3:00 a.m., officers were called to a burglary at this woman’s home in the Alabama neighborhood. Warren was inside and calling the woman’s name. Officers were close and able to arrest Warren in the driveway without incident.
Warren was booked into the Whatcom County Jail for residential burglary, stalking, malicious mischief, and violation of an anti-harassment order. He is currently being held in lieu of a $250,000 appearance bond.
