The hunt for fugitive assault suspect Devariae Montrel Conley has gone federal, with the FBI's Seattle field office now assisting the Bellingham Police Department after Conley allegedly took off before he could be sentenced in a violent felony assault case. Conley was arrested in Bellingham on April 20, 2020, on an assault charge with a domestic-violence enhancement and later failed to appear in court. According to the FBI, he was born on December 11, 1993, and is described as approximately 5-foot-5 and 130 pounds.
What authorities are saying
In a post from FBI Seattle, officials say state felony arrest warrants were issued on February 28, 2023, after Conley failed to appear in Whatcom County Superior Court. The federal alert lists known aliases, including Trella and Dominic, and notes several distinctive tattoos: a cloud on his chest, script on the inner lower left arm, and a DC-style logo on the upper right arm. Investigators are hoping those details will jog a few memories.
How to report tips
If you have information about Conley or his whereabouts, the Bellingham Police Department asks that you call its tip line at (360) 778-8611 or submit information through the city's online portal. The FBI is also taking tips at its toll-free line, 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or through the FBI online system.
Background on the case
According to FBI Seattle, Conley was first arrested on April 20, 2020, on a violent felony assault charge with a domestic-violence enhancement. Authorities say he later fled before sentencing, which triggered the state warrants. Unfinished business in the courts is nothing new in Whatcom County; the Bellingham Herald reported in 2018 that the county had roughly 12,000 active warrants at the time, most for failures to appear.
Booking challenges and local context
Complicating matters, the Whatcom County Jail has at times operated under booking restrictions that limit which warrants the facility will accept; an internal Whatcom County memorandum spells out the rules and exceptions. That policy means some people wanted on failure-to-appear warrants who are arrested outside Whatcom County may only be booked if the charge fits the county's criteria or if extradition is confirmed, according to county documents.
Authorities stress that if you see Conley, do not approach him. Call 911 to report emergencies. For non-emergency information, contact Bellingham Police at (360) 778-8611 or the FBI tip line at 1-800-225-5324. Officials ask anyone sharing tips to include dates, locations, and any vehicle descriptions or video that might help move the investigation forward.
