Posted: January 3, 2010 9:22:17 AM PST
The wife of a Bellingham man reported her husband missing Friday evening, New Year’s Day. The 54 year old man went for his nightly walk at about 6:00 p.m, and by 9:00 p.m had not returned. After taking the initial report, the officer checked the area where the man usually walked. While checking the Arroyo Park area, the officer located an unoccupied 2000 Dodge van with recent damage to the windshield. The officer learned that the van had just been reported stolen by the registered owner. The officer asked for additional officers to assist in the search of the missing man as he felt the two incidents were related. At about 10:15 p.m, a police Sergeant located the body of a man off the side of the road at Chuckanut Drive and Sea Pines. That man was later identified as the missing person. He was only 3 blocks from his home. Bellingham Paramedics were called, they confirmed the man was deceased. The focus of the investigation turned to the stolen van. The owner told officers that his son "texted" him earlier that the van had been stolen, this caused the owner to call the police. Throughout the course of Friday night and the next morning, the man’s son went to several friends allegedly telling them that he had been involved in a collision. He became a suspect in the investigation and the focus of a manhunt. On Saturday afternoon at about 3:30 p.m, the suspect was located at the home of a friend in the Fairhaven area. He was taken into custody without incident. The suspect allegedly told officers that he was the driver of the van and "texting" when the collision occurred. He also told officers that he had been drinking alcohol and "tripping" on mushrooms. After the collision, he allegedly drove the van to Arroyo Park, "texted" his father the van had been stolen and walked away. Sean F. Crissy , 18 has been booked into the Whatcom County Jail for Vehicular Homicide, Hit and Run fatality and violation of a domestic order. His first court appearance is scheduled for 3:00 p.m Monday
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Media Contact:
Mark Young
Public Information Officer
Bellingham Police Department
(360)778-8815
myoung@cob.org
