A member of the Lummi Nation is facing federal charges of unlawful firearms possession and violations concerning the death of protected bald eagles. Acting U.S. Attorney Teal Luthy Miller announced that Joel David Ridley, aged 38, would appear in court this afternoon for these charges. Ridley was arrested by Lummi Nation Police on February 23, 2025, after police responded to reports of gunshots and found him with a dead eagle in his SUV.
The criminal complaint details that a witness on the Lummi Reservation, while walking his dog, heard two gunshots and observed a person picking up a fallen eagle. Later, the witness saw another eagle injured after falling from a tree and promptly contacted the police. The surviving eagle, severely injured, was captured by the police and transported to the Humane Society for care.
Police later stopped an SUV matching the witness's description, which was quickly driven into a driveway. Records showed the vehicle belonged to Ridley. On arriving at the residence, officers found a dead eagle in the SUV's back seat. Ridley was then arrested at the scene.
Officers obtained a search warrant for Ridley's vehicle, where they discovered the dead eagle and a concealed .22 caliber Savage rifle. Ridley is prohibited from firearm possession due to a previous 2003 conviction for First Degree Assault in Whatcom County Superior Court.
The eagles, judged to be juvenile bald eagles, were taken to the Washington State Humane Society. Both sustained gunshot wounds and the surviving eagle, unable to recover, was euthanized.
While the Lummi Tribe has permits for possessing, distributing, and transporting deceased bald or golden eagles found within Indian Country, their permit does not extend to acquiring eagles through gunshots, poison, or traps.
Unlawful firearm possession could lead to a penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment and a $250,000 fine, whereas violating the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act may result in a one-year prison sentence and a $100,000 fine.
It is crucial to note that the charges in the criminal complaint are allegations, and Ridley is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
The investigation is being jointly conducted by the Lummi Nation Police Department and the FBI, with Assistant United States Attorney Celia Lee prosecuting the case as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of Washington.