BLAINE, Wash. — A woman with outstanding warrants for assault and several property crimes dating back to 2021 was arrested on June 27th. Court documents detailed what led to her arrest.
Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a report of a theft in progress call on May 28th in the area of Delta Line Road and Birch Bay-Lynden Road. They arrived to find a vehicle and a woman who said she was there on behalf of a friend who used to live on the property. When asked to identify herself, she first refused and then provided information but said she was not carrying any ID. The name and birthday provided were unable to be located in identification databases by the deputies. She then provided another name and information which did correlate to driver’s licensing information on file. The licensing photograph on file slightly resembled the woman and she was directed to leave the property.
Further investigation of the vehicle the woman had left in determined it was associated with a man with active arrest warrants and the owner was identified as that man’s wife’s relative. The man’s wife, identified as Michelle Lyn Stroud, age 42, also was found to have several active felony warrants. The deputies viewed Stroud’s licensing photo and realized that was who they had been speaking with.
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Click for more informationThe vehicle was located unoccupied about 1 mile away the same day and seized pending a search warrant.
On May 31st, a search warrant was served on the vehicle and the following were discovered.
- dozens of suspected stolen credit cards
- blank checks
- identification cards including passports
- social security cards
- identifying documents belonging to Stroud
Persons whose names appeared on the blank checks were contacted and informed investigators that the checks were drawn on accounts with a bank they had never banked with. It was believed that mailed solicitations from the bank were stolen and used to fraudulently open accounts in their names. Other possible victims were contacted and told investigators the items were likely stolen from their mailboxes. Many lived in Birch Bay and Blaine neighborhoods.
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Click for more informationOn June 27th, a search warrant was served at a Maple Crest Lane address in Blaine and Stroud and her husband, Joshua Curtis Stroud, age 43, were arrested and booked into Whatcom County Jail.
Joshua was booked under 2 bench warrants for failing to appear in court where he faces violation of a no contact order and 2nd-degree assault charges.
Michelle was booked under 5 bench warrants for failing to appear in court where she faces numerous identity theft and other property crimes along with a 2nd-degree assault charge. She also faces new charges of 2nd-degree identity theft, 1st-degree criminal impersonation, obstructing a police officer and resisting arrest.
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Click for more informationJoshua posted a $60,000 bond and was released from custody on July 5th.
As of July 13th, Michelle remained in custody at the Whatcom County Jail without the option for bail due to violating conditions of a felony judgement and sentence for theft and burglary charges issued in 2020 as part of a guilty plea deal. A bench warrant was issued in 2021 for her arrest due to those reported violations.
Both have recent histories of having bonds revoked due to failures to appear in court.
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