Brief boat chase leads to arrest of man accused of flashing people from Lake Whatcom

Authorities arrested a man who allegedly exposed himself to a group of people on Hertz Trail from a boat on Lake Whatcom around 7:30 p.m. Monday, according to Undersheriff Steve Harris with the Whatcom County Sheriff’s Office.

The incident was reported by a person who was in a group of six people, including a child.

The suspect, later identified as Kevin John Abbott, 60, was about 20 to 40 feet from the shore, according to Harris.

Deputies arrived at the scene in a patrol boat and made attempts to confront Abbott, who piloted his boat away from the deputies toward the Sudden Valley Marina before he finally stopped after a brief chase, Harris said.

Abbott denied the allegations at the scene. Deputies observed signs of impairment to be “clear,” according to Harris.

He was arrested on suspicion of boating under the influence, indecent exposure and failure to comply with stop requirements.