Leaders debate new gun laws while 14-time felon was free during Blaine drive-by, frustrated sheriff tells Dori

After racking up more than 14 felony convictions in 18 years, Shawn Noisey, 38, was back on the streets Tuesday night when Whatcom County Sheriff’s deputies got a call: multiple shots had been fired in a densely populated area near Northwest Washington’s Birch Bay.

When deputies tracked Noisey down Wednesday, they arrested him yet again – this time in connection with what Sheriff Bill Elfo told The Dori Monson Show was a drive-by shooting with unlawful possession of a loaded 9mm handgun.

Noisey – whose prior felony convictions include vehicular assault, harassment, possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a firearm, and first-degree theft – was out on probation when he was arrested. There was also a warrant out for him in another case, court records show.
“It’s a rather long and notorious history,” Sheriff Elfo told Dori’s listeners.

What in the world is a guy with a criminal history like this walking around free? Dori wanted to know.
“Unfortunately,” Elfo said, “this is not the exception but the rule.”

But what about the “Three-Strikes-You’re-Out” laws passed by the Washington State Legislature in 1993? Dori followed up.

Despite Noisey’s lengthy rap sheet, Elfo explained, his felony convictions don’t rise to the level that would qualify for a lifetime behind bars, even under this statute.

“In some states (three strikes) really means that,” Elfo said. In Washington, however, “only very, very severe felonies would qualify.”

To compound Elfo’s frustration, the sheriff told Dori that state lawmakers have tied the hands of those in law enforcement by restricting pursuits of likely offenders.

Elfo also blamed these restrictions for a 600% increase in stolen vehicles in Whatcom County. The year before the new law took effect, there were 14 stolen vehicles throughout the county. In the year following the new, more lenient law, 84 vehicles were stolen countywide. Car thieves often take off at high speeds when spotted by police, he added.

“Fleeing (a potential arrest) has become routine,” Elfo said, “and they endanger everyone.”
And to make matters worse, even if Whatcom County deputies make felony arrests, courts often “plead down” the charge, he said.

“Lack of adequate jail space” makes it even tougher to keep felons like Noisey behind bars, Elfo explained. During the peak of the COVID pandemic, court cases were backlogged and mental health competency hearings were delayed, the sheriff continued.

Both Dori and the sheriff agree the conflux of these factors is hurting public safety.

“Politicians talk all the time about new gun laws,” Dori said, noting that Noisey’s felony convictions should have prevented him from having a weapon.

But no matter how restrictive laws make firearms and ammunition, Dori added, “criminals always seem to get the guns.”

Listen to Dori Monson weekday afternoons from noon – 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.