Bad aim

On Saturday, October 13, a Blaine police officer encountered an 18-year-old Lynden man walking east on H Street carrying a 30-06 hunting rifle. Upon seeing the officer, the man threw the rifle on the ground. Contact was made with the man who said he had thrown the rifle to the ground because he was afraid the police would confiscate it.

The man asked for a ride home to Lynden because he had suffered a gunshot wound to his right leg and was having difficulty walking. He initially declined to accept medical assistance.

The man explained that he had burned his clothing in the woods because the dog scent emanating from the clothes was not conducive to deer hunting. He inadvertently left a cartridge in his pants pocket which exploded in the fire and struck his leg.

As the officer was trying to convince the man to accept medical treatment, the man passed out and apparently went into shock. The Northwest Regional Fire and Rescue was summoned to provide assistance and the man was ultimately transported to the hospital by the Bellingham Fire Department.

An investigation revealed that the man had been hunting in the unincorporated area south of Blaine. The matter was referred to the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office. .

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