Man arrested near Deming following SWAT team response, Whatcom County man arrested for crashing a semi truck through gate, Bellingham police raid on suspected fentanyl dealer recovers possible IED, The Great Shakeout, Bellingham residents report series of campaign sign thefts, Amazon accused of violating WA ban on noncompete agreements
Independent, nonprofit community radio.
KMRE brings you local news for Thursday, October 17. Good afternoon, I’m Theron Danielson.
STORY: Man arrested near Deming following SWAT team response
On Monday, Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies with the help of a SWAT team, arrested Preston Scott Torres, 31, after a domestic dispute near Deming.
During an argument with another adult, Torres allegedly shook an infant, slammed the adult against a wall, punched, and attempted to strangle them. The other adult escaped and called 911. A SWAT team entered the home, safely removed the baby, and later found Torres nearby. Torres faces charges that include third-degree assault of a child, second-degree assault-domestic violence, and other related offenses.
He remains in jail on a $20,000 bond.
STORY: Whatcom County man arrested for crashing a semi truck through gate
Simon Frederick Destaffany, 37, was arrested on Saturday in connection with a June 6th incident where he allegedly crashed a semi-truck through a closed gate and into a vehicle belonging to someone he knew.
The incident occurred on Squalicum Lake Road. Authorities had been searching for Destaffany since then, but the semi-truck involved has not been found. He was arrested after deputies responded to a disabled vehicle incident and discovered he had outstanding warrants.
Destaffany faces charges of first-degree malicious mischief and hit-and-run of an unattended vehicle.
STORY: Bellingham police raid on suspected fentanyl dealer recovers possible IED
During a police raid on Tuesday targeting a suspected fentanyl dealer, officers say they discovered a possible explosive device.
According to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, the search, conducted by Sheriff’s deputies and Bellingham Police, found small amounts of suspected fentanyl and methamphetamine, a stolen handgun, around $3,000 in suspected drug proceeds, and a possible bomb. The suspect, 46-year-old Joshua Byram, was arrested and remains in the Whatcom County Jail without bail.
The explosive device is still being investigated.
STORY: The Great Shakeout
Today is the Great Shakeout.
The annual series of earthquake drills began in Southern California in 2008, and has since spread to other states and countries. The event allows people in homes, schools, and other organizations to practice earthquake safety and preparedness based on scenario earthquakes that could affect their area. In Whatcom County, drills have been organized in collaboration with federal and local agencies, with almost 44,000 people participating.
Washington has two earthquake warning systems in place, but according to state officials, a new option could provide a quicker solution. The MyShake app, first launched in 2019, was created by seismologists and engineers in California and funded by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. It sends alerts in California and Oregon, and as of yesterday, it’s now available in Washington. MyShake can be downloaded for free through the Apple or Google Play app stores.
Bellingham Dept of Emergency Management says, there are four key steps to prepare for an earthquake: 1) identify and secure hazards in your home, 2) create a disaster plan and decide on how you will get in touch with friends and family when cell phones go down, 3) organize disaster supplies in accessible locations, and 4) minimize financial hardship by organizing important documents.
For more information on drills happening locally, go to shakeout-dot-org backslash washington.
STORY: Bellingham residents report series of campaign sign thefts
Over the past month, numerous political signs supporting both Democratic and Republican candidates have been reported stolen across Whatcom County, despite the act being a misdemeanor.
Megan Peters, the Bellingham Police Department public information officer, said there have been eight reports of political signs being taken since Oct. 1st. On social media sites such as NextDoor, dozens of posts from people in neighborhoods from the Puget, Samish Hill, and Columbia neighborhoods have been warning about stolen political signs. According to the program coordinator for the Whatcom County Democrats, Gwen Groden (GROW-den), around 200 signs featuring Democratic candidates like Vice President Kamala (COMM-uh-luh) Harris, her running mate Tim Walz (WALLS), and gubernatorial candidate Bob Ferguson have been taken. According to recent reporting by the Cascadia Daily, signs for Republican candidates, including Kamal Bhachu (BAH-choo) and Raymond Pelletti, have also been stolen or vandalized.
The rise in sign thefts has led to frustration from candidates and supporters, as the thefts increase tension in the community.
STORY: Amazon accused of violating WA ban on noncompete agreements
Two Amazon employees have filed a class action lawsuit that accuses the company of violating Washington state’s ban on noncompete agreements for lower-wage workers.
The lawsuit claims Amazon required employees in its warehouses and retail stores to sign job offer letters that included hidden noncompete agreements. The agreements restricted employees from soliciting business from Amazon customers and required them to disclose any work done with those customers for 18 months after leaving.
In 2020, Washington banned noncompete agreements for workers earning less than $100,000 dollars, and in 2023 raised the threshold to $120,000 dollars. Amazon disputes the claims, and asserts that its policies comply with the law. However, critics argue that Amazon simply changed the language from a ‘noncompete clause’ to a ‘nonsolicitation clause’ in order to skirt the ban.
The lawsuit is part of broader legal actions against Amazon, that include cases involving meal breaks and salary transparency. Noncompetes have faced increased scrutiny nationally, with the Federal Trade Commission attempting to ban the practice earlier this year, though the effort is currently blocked by a Texas court.
WX: The sun has returned
Expect mostly sunny weather this afternoon, with highs in the mid-50s and calm southwestern winds. Evening lows should be around the mid-40s.
The rain is expected to return late tonight, and it should be with us for most of tomorrow.
OUTRO:
Today’s newscast was produced by volunteers Carlos Braga (BRA-guh), Connor O’Boyle, Jayne Kuhlman (COOL-mun), Tristan Trudell, Kyler Cantrell, Theron (THAIR-in) Danielson, Brodey O’Brien, Paloma Ortiz, Anna Hedrick, and Miguel Garduño (MEE-gel gar-DOO-ño). Tune in to local news on KMRE weekdays at 3, 4 and 5 p.m. For news tips and feedback, send us an email at news@kmre.org or call 360-398-6150. KMRE is a nonprofit community radio station, powered by listener donations. Check out our Patreon page or go to kmre.org and click on the banner. I’m Theron Danielson, and thank you for listening.
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