Police on Wednesday arrested a man they believe is involved in at least three local gas station robberies and a police shooting and perhaps as many as 14 other robberies in the area.
The arrest of the Shoreline resident came at 3:45 p.m., March 24, at a home in the 18500 block of Corliss Avenue N.
The man is being held without bail at the King County Jail on investigation of first-degree assault as well as three counts of first-degree robbery. A bail hearing was scheduled Thursday, March 25, after The Enterprise deadline.
According to King County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart, police believe the man is one of a group of robbers involved in as many as 14 robberies across Shoreline, Seattle and South Snohomish County in the past four months.
Police also believe the man was involved in a shootout with police on March 13. In that incident, a suspect believed to be linked with the robberies opened fire on a detective on the 200 block of 15th Avenue NE. No injuries occurred and the suspect fled the scene.
The man arrested Wednesday, 26, was apprehended by police after officers received a tip from Crime Stoppers. The man was arrested by a SWAT team and there were no injuries during the arrest.
Leading up to the arrest, Shoreline Police canvassed the Ballinger area Saturday, March 20, contacting more than 1,000 citizens, as they continued their search for the suspect involved in a number of gas station robberies and who they believe is linked with a police shooting.
Officers from five police departments met at Shoreline Police Headquarters before they began knocking on doors. Officers from Seattle, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace and King County joined Shoreline Police.
About 30 detectives gathered to compare notes and discuss their strategy regarding the robbery trend in Shoreline in the past four months. Afterwards, they knocked on doors looking for witnesses, suspects or anyone who might have information regarding the shooting or robberies.
“This is pretty rare,” Shoreline Police Chief Denise Turner said about the officers going door-to-door. “But this is such an important case and we need to solve the shooting and robberies.”
According to Turner, police officers obtained relevant information from residents in the Ballinger area regarding suspicious activities, vehicles and persons, which they are now sorting through.
“We are continuing our efforts and are trying to apprehend the offenders,” Turner said.
Beginning in November and extending through March 1, Shoreline has incurred 14 robberies at local businesses. According to Urquhart, while a few of the robberies were likely the work of the same person, not all 14 were committed by the same suspect. Suspects have been identified as black, white, Asian, male and female. The robberies tend to be committed in the northern part of Shoreline, extending from 145th street to 205th Street.
The suspect identified in several gas station robberies and the shooting was described as a white male in his 20s, 6 feet tall, with a thin build. He was seen wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt with pockets in the front, a dark shirt, dark pants and dark shoes. His face was partially covered and he was armed with a silver revolver.
Other nearby areas, such as Seattle, Mountlake Terrace and Marysville have had at least one robbery each that may be linked to the Shoreline robberies.
A community meeting is scheduled at noon, today, Friday, March 26, at the Fire Center, 17525 Aurora Ave. N., Shoreline. Local business owners and apartment complex managers are encouraged to attend to learn more about what the police department is doing to solve the robberies and also about crime prevention tips.
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