Arlington officer’s ‘deja vu’ moment leads to car prowl arrests

Published 1:30 am Thursday, May 11, 2017

ARLINGTON — Arrests aren’t always made accompanied by lights and sirens.

Earlier this month, an Arlington police officer opted for something more discreet — a bike. He snuck up behind two people prowling inside cars at a dealership.

“The last thing they would expect is an officer to arrive on foot or on a bike,” Arlington police Sgt. Peter Barrett said. “He got the jump on these guys.”

In the early hours of May 1, a bystander called 911 after seeing two people breaking into cars about a block from the police department. Cars had windows smashed and some were missing stereos. Officer Lucas Adkins was leaving the station when he spotted the police department’s black patrol bikes leaning against a wall.

He said he had a “deja vu” moment.

Adkins used to work the graveyard shift at the Langley Police Department on Whidbey Island.

“It was a small town so when I started my car, everyone could hear,” Adkins said. “I would get on my bike and ride to calls.”

It took him less than a minute to ride down the road to the car dealership. He saw two men crouched between cars in a fenced-off area that was used as overflow parking.

“I was able to get in the area undetected and radio exactly what they were doing without them knowing I was there,” Adkins said.

He told the prowlers to stop what they were doing. Instead, they ran and piled into a getaway car where a woman was waiting. At that moment, Barrett drove up in a police car and blocked them in.

The three suspects, ranging in age from 16 to 22, were arrested for investigation of burglary. Two also had warrants for felony crimes, Barrett said.

Adkins is a field training officer, meaning he is responsible for teaching new officers. He encourages them to think creatively. “Let’s get the job done, even if it’s a little unorthodox,” he said.

The Arlington Police Department received funding to buy four bikes this year. Adkins was the first to use them. Barrett said the department hopes to use bike patrols more as the weather dries out.

Caitlin Tompkins: 425-339-3192; ctompkins@heraldnet.com.