Canadian authorities arrest Ferndale man wanted in rape investigation, return him to county

Canadian authorities recently located and detained a Ferndale man who is wanted for questioning in a Whatcom County sexual assault investigation.

John Aaron Brooks, 37, traveled to Canada after a young adult reported to police that Brooks had assaulted them as a minor.

Brooks is suspected of abusing the young adult for years in Bellingham and other jurisdictions, all while providing them with drugs and alcohol, according to Megan Peters with the Bellingham Police Department.

After the young adult came forward to police, but before police could move to make an arrest, Brooks traveled to Canada in late July. When prosecutors and police learned he left the country, a warrant was issued for his arrest, Peters said.

Canadian border officials were notified of the warrant and that Brooks had violated their country’s conditions of entry. Brooks was detained Aug. 27.

After going through the Canadian legal process, Brooks was ordered to be removed from the country by the Canada Border Services Agency on Oct. 1 and was taken into custody by the Bellingham Police later that day.

He was booked into Whatcom County Jail on a warrant for first-degree rape with a $500,000 appearance bond.