A man from Everson, Washington, faces federal charges for being a felon in possession of a firearm after an early-morning incident involving federal border agents. The suspect, a 39-year-old resident, was detained at a medical facility in Whatcom County on June 16, 2026, following the confrontation near the international boundary in Blaine.
The following day, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles Neil Floyd announced the filing of the charges. Federal court documents indicate that Border Patrol officers proceeded to a wooded area adjacent to the border after a surveillance system captured a figure moving through a zone frequently used for illegal crossings and smuggling activities.
During the interaction, agents identified the individual and reviewed his records, which contained a cautionary note regarding his approach based on previous law enforcement interactions. While conducting a search, one officer allegedly detected a handgun in the suspect’s waistband. The federal complaint states that the man resisted and broke free as the officer attempted to secure the weapon. The suspect then tried to run and was shot in the leg by a second agent.
After receiving medical treatment at the hospital, the man was released into the custody of law enforcement. His ability to own a gun is barred by federal law due to a significant criminal background. Court records document nine previous felony convictions in Skagit and Whatcom counties. These prior offenses include residential burglary, possession of a stolen vehicle, and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Woods is currently handling the prosecution. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation, supported by the Blaine Police Department, the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.