http://www.komotv.com/stories/43196.htm

Bellingham Robbery Briefly Leads To Border Crossing Problems

April 30, 2006

By KOMO Staff


BLAINE - A robbery in Bellingham led to some problems at the U.S.-Canadian border Saturday night after Canadian crossing guards walked off the job.

Guards at three crossings left their posts after word an armed robbery suspect was headed that way from Bellingham.

The guards are not armed, and are allowed to leave if they feel they are in danger.

Traffic at the border was backed up for a few hours Saturday night, but no other problems were reported and operations were back to normal Sunday morning.

This isn't the first time something like this has happened. Unarmed border agents walked off the job three times in just a few weeks earlier this year -- each time after a report of armed criminals headed that direction.

Canada's new prime minister Stephen Harper has proposed changing the law to allow agents to finally carry guns.