Long lines at Canadian border after guards leave

Motorists heading to Canada from Western Washington waited three hours or more to cross the border Sunday night after unarmed Canadian border guards walked off the job earlier in the day in response to a report that a murder suspect was heading their way.

Canadian border-patrol officers do not carry firearms and are allowed to walk off the job if work conditions become too dangerous.

Canadian Border Service Agency spokeswoman Faith St. John said problems started just after 2 p.m. when guards at the Huntingdon crossing, across the border from Sumas, Whatcom County, left their posts after hearing that an armed and dangerous murder suspect might try to enter Canada from the United States. The move shut down that border crossing for a short time, she said.

Information

Updates on border wait times are available at www.wsdot.wa.gov/traffic/border/

That prompted border guards at three other crossings — Aldergrove, B.C., Douglas (Peace Arch), B.C., and Pacific Highway (Surrey, B.C.) — to walk off the job as well, St. John said.

Northbound traffic, including along Interstate 5 at Blaine, where the Peace Arch crossing is located, came to a standstill as Canadian border-patrol supervisors scrambled to take the place of the officers who left their posts at the four border entries.

All of the crossings were open but operating with just two lanes each by 5:30 p.m., St. John said.

The Canadian government, under pressure from border officers, announced in August that it would start arming guards. But that isn't expected to begin until next fall.

As of early evening, there were no reports that the suspect in question, who reportedly was wanted in California, had attempted to cross the border at any of the affected entry points.

Tyrone Beason: 206-464-2251 or tbeason@seattletimes.com