Wash. Police Arrest Two With 81 Pounds of Cocaine

A car and foot chase south of Lynden ended with the arrest of two men and the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine hidden in the car, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.

April 5, 2012

2 min read

April 05--A car and foot chase south of Lynden ended with the arrest of two men and the seizure of a large quantity of cocaine hidden in the car, according to the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office.

The incident Tuesday, April 3, began when federal agents informed local law officers that a vehicle from California that was suspected of being used in drug crimes was in Whatcom County.

Sheriff deputies saw the vehicle, described by eyewitnesses as a black SUV, and tried to stop it in the 300 block of West Pole Road, but the driver continued and a short chase ensued. The SUV struck a tree in the 200 block of Pollman Circle and the driver and his passenger fled on foot.

Deputies caught one of the men after a short chase, and a Bellingham police dog was brought in to find the other man, who was located in the 6000 block of Braker Way.

One of the men allegedly had a small amount of methamphetamine on him; both were found to be in the United States illegally.

Damien Hernandez-Martinez, 22, was booked into Whatcom County Jail Tuesday evening for attempting to elude and on an Immigration detainer. Jaime Hernandez-Hernandez, 29, was booked for methamphetamine possession and on an Immigration detainer.

The SUV was turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration and a search uncovered 81.5 pounds of cocaine hidden inside, with an estimated street value of more than $500,000. An investigation is ongoing.

Reach ZOE FRALEY [email protected] or call 756-2803.