Man convicted in chase that killed deputy is on the run again

BY Kim Shepard  on September 14, 2012 @ 2:06 pm (Updated: 7:54 am - 9/15/12 )

Elsloo.jpg
Adrian Van Elsloo was convicted in the death of Whatcom County Deputy Matt Herzog during a high speed chase in 2001. (Photo courtesy of the Whatcom County Sheriff's Office) | Zoom
The man who led Bellingham Police on a high speed chase last Sunday has run from cops several times before. In fact, Adrian Van Elsloo was convicted in 2001 for a chase that led to the death of Whatcom County Deputy Matt Herzog.

"It's obvious from his continued pattern of reckless disregard for human life that he cares nothing about the pain that he has caused many and has learned nothing in his multiple encounters with the criminal justice system," says Whatcom County Sheriff Bill Elfo.

Elsloo has been arrested 20 times in Washington state for a variety of charges and he is still on the run today.

In the latest incident, a Bellingham Police officer tried to stop Elsloo for an illegal right turn. Rather than pulling over, the suspect stepped on the gas. He sped through red lights and stops signs, and at one point he went 60 miles per hour in a 20 mile per hour zone.

When the rental car finally came to a stop, Elsloo got out and ran. There was a woman in the passenger seat, and police say she seemed surprised by what had just taken place. She is not suspected of any crimes.

The car Elsloo was driving had been rented from an Enterprise agency in Billingham, so at first the officer involved in the chase was not sure of the identity of the suspect. It was only later that a photo of Elsloo jogged his memory.

Elsloo is described as being 30 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 190 pounds, and balding with brown hair. He has been known to drive a 2003 Chevy Blazer with license plate number 1-4-6-Y-S-O.

Kim Shepard, KIRO Radio Reporter
Kim Shepard is a news anchor and reporter for KIRO Radio and the office optimist. She's energetic, quick to laugh and has a positive outlook on life.
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Comments (14)


  • Add A Comment

  • 333 wrote...
    There is only one person to blame
    September 14, 2012 4:07 pm
    ...the one that let him out of jail for killing a cop. fool me once...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Yeah. WA. State.
    September 14, 2012 5:04 pm
    Move here. You won't be held accountable. The libs won't allow it. I had a guy in my car w/ 69 felony convictions! SIXTY NINE! And he was out.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Right 5-0
    September 15, 2012 7:06 am
    Just like that liberal Mike Huckabee, who released Maurice Clemmons, in that liberal state of Arkansas. You righties are going to have to pay more taxes, to build more prisons, to keep the felons locked up. Fat chance of that.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • ssbn629g wrote...
    Hugging Thugs....
    September 14, 2012 6:02 pm
    Is alive and well in Washington State.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 333 wrote...
    HPD-50
    September 15, 2012 7:11 am
    Stop it, you're not a cop...
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    You're funny.
    September 15, 2012 7:32 am
    I'll laugh whn I arrest my next doper. Who knows...it may be you.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lazarus wrote...
    Why bother?
    September 15, 2012 8:49 am
    Hmmm, a quote from the story... Elsloo has been arrested 20 times in Washington state for a variety of charges and he is still on the run today. Including KILLING someone... oh and he is only 30! I'll bet his JV record is longer... you see it all starts early... little crimes, no time; bigger crime, no time; felony crimes, no time.... then murder, a little time... what should we expect? If there's no punishment, then why should we be surprised that his continuing criminal activty increases. So why bother arresting him again? As past experience reveals that he won't be off the streets long before he is out and endangering our lives once again.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Mike_D34 wrote...
    ugh... bullets are still realitivly cheap
    September 15, 2012 10:32 am
    lets see... convicted and on the run? his rights are done as far as I'm concerned.... shoot on site, and be done with it already.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • soo purletiv wrote...
    @ Forrest
    September 15, 2012 10:33 am
    Your killing me man!

    I hate to be defending Huckabee, but truth be told, and please for the last time, he did NOT release Clemmons.

    The legal system is much deeper than that!

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • fartforce1 wrote...
    Wow, Forest should take time to at least LEARN about what he is talking about first.
    September 15, 2012 12:45 pm
    perhaps like the old saying goes, he really cant see anything from there.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Did too morons
    September 15, 2012 2:58 pm
    Mike Huckabee Granted Clemency to Maurice Clemmons.

    http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-5835831-503544.html

    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • It's me! Ha ha! wrote...
    Just like that liberal Mike Huckabee, who released Maurice Clemmons, in that liberal state of Arkansas. You righties are going to have to pay more taxes, to build more prisons, to keep the felons locked up. Fat chance of that.
    September 16, 2012 5:51 am
    Huckabee, yea! But please tell me who was the person on this end of that deal and wht party she is? The very same party who is soft on criminals and crime!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • lazarus wrote...
    'This is Texas, not Washington; I think it says it all!
    September 16, 2012 8:44 am
    Read this article: CONROE, Texas (AP) - A man who received probation four times for driving while intoxicated while living in the state of Washington has received a four-year prison term after he was pulled over and his blood-alcohol level was found more than three times over the Texas legal limit. Marc Alvin Thomas had been requesting probation again and diversion into a substance abuse program when he appeared in court in Montgomery County, just north of Houston. The Courier of Montgomery County reported Saturday the 35-year-old Thomas, who moved to Huntsville a few years ago, was arrested in January by a state trooper who spotted his weaving vehicle. Prosecutor Rob Freyer said Thomas was looking at prison time now because "this is Texas, not Washington."
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }