Correction: Photo Added
Bellingham Police officers attempted to stop Jeffrey Moser, 58, for driving in a reckless manner on Thursday, July 9, 2020. Moser failed to stop, leading officers on a pursuit. He attempted to ram an officer head-on and then actually rammed another officer head-on before crashing into a building. Moser was taken into custody and booked into jail for three felony charges and two misdemeanors.
Moser was seen driving at a high rate of speed and failing to stop for a red traffic light the area of Texas and Verona streets at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 9. He was recklessly driving in an erratic manner, above the speed limit and ignoring traffic control devices. An officer in a fully marked patrol car attempted make the traffic stop for the reckless driving. Moser sped away, ignoring the officer’s lights and siren, driving even more recklessly and refusing to stop.
The pursuit covered approximately 3.8 miles through mostly residential areas in Bellingham and lasted about five minutes. While fleeing, Moser drove directly into the path of an occupied, parked police car with its emergency lights on. The officer had to take rapid evasive action to avoid being hit head on by Moser. Officers attempted to end the pursuit by using a pursuit intervention technique, which proved to be unsuccessful.
Moser continued to flee, speeding well in excess of the posted speed limit, ignoring every single traffic signal and not stopping at any red lights or stop signs. As Moser continued to flee, the pursuing officers saw him swerve intentionally across both lanes of travel directly into the path of an officer who had parked their patrol car well off the roadway. Moser crashed his car head-on into the officer’s car with the officer still in the car. Moser kept driving and drove into the front of a business in the 2000 block of E. Bakerview Rd. His car pushed halfway into the building. He sustained minor injuries related to the crash he initiated. The officer was not injured.
Officers, conducting a high-risk stop, attempted to negotiate with Moser to get out of the car, but he refused to comply. Officers ended up having to physically get into the building and remove Moser from the car safely to place him under arrest. There was significant damage to the building and the Bellingham Police car.
Moser was booked into the Whatcom County Jail for attempting to elude police vehicle, assault 1st degree, malicious mischief 1st degree, resisting arrest, and reckless driving. He represented a clear and present danger to the community with his reckless attempt to escape and intentional assault with a motor vehicle against police officers.
