A 38-year-old member of the Lummi Nation, Joel David Ridley, is scheduled to appear in federal court facing charges of illegal firearms possession and two violations of the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced the charges, noting that Ridley was arrested on February 23, 2025, by Lummi Nation Police.
According to the complaint, a witness reported gunshots near his property on the Lummi Reservation. This witness observed a person picking up a fallen eagle. While on the phone with law enforcement, the witness also saw another eagle fall, injured. The police later captured the second eagle and delivered it to the Humane Society.
Subsequently, law enforcement located an SUV matching the witness's description, owned by Ridley. Upon inspection, they found a dead eagle in the vehicle. Ridley was arrested on the spot in his driveway.
A search of the SUV revealed another dead eagle and a .22 caliber Savage rifle. Ridley is legally barred from owning firearms due to a 2003 conviction for Assault in the First Degree in Whatcom County Superior Court.
Both eagles, determined to be juvenile bald eagles, suffered gunshot wounds. The surviving eagle was euthanized due to its injuries. The Lummi Tribe holds permits related to bald or golden eagles, but these do not cover shooting, poisoning, or trapping the animals.
Possessing a firearm unlawfully can lead to a sentence of up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act may result in up to a year in prison and a $100,000 fine. The charges remain allegations, and Ridley is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The investigation involves the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI. Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee, a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington, is prosecuting the case.
