LYNDEN, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A Lynden man arrested earlier this week has been transferred to federal immigration custody.
My Bellingham Now received a video tip from a neighbor who lives behind the apartment complex where the incident occurred on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 29 The man, identified in jail records as 29-year-old Jesus Lopez Ruiz, was seen being taken into custody by over a dozen armed Homeland Security agents.
Lopez Ruiz had allegedly been pursued by unmarked vehicles several weeks ago, according to local organization Racial Unity Now. One of the unmarked vehicles hit a separate car during the pursuit, and Lopez Ruiz was able to get away.
Lopez Ruiz was taken into custody by HSI on Wednesday and booked into Whatcom County Jail on a federal warrant for assault of a federal officer.
It’s unclear at this time what incident that assault charge relates to.
Lopez Ruiz was transferred to the ICE Detention Center in Tacoma the following day, but little else is known about his condition at this time. Racial Unity Now has set up a donation page on their website to help with legal costs leading to Lopez Ruiz’s release.
The Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office had a limited role in Lopez Ruiz’s arrest.
WCSO spokesperson Deb Slater says the Sheriff’s Office provided assistance to HSI to safely carry out the federal arrest warrant. According to Slater, Sheriff’s deputies maintained the perimeter and helped with communications during the incident on Wednesday.
Slater emphasized that the Sheriff’s Office had no role in the investigation that led to the arrest warrant being issued. She says the office has complied with the state’s Keep Washington Working Act, which prohibits local law enforcement from taking part in federal immigration enforcement.
