Sehome robbery suspect arrested

Officers from the Bellingham Police Department and from Western Washington University's University Police have arrested one WWU student suspected of robbing another student in the Sehome Arboretum Oct. 15, University Police Chief Randy Stegmeier announced in an e-mail message to WWU faculty, staff and students today.

Here's the full text of Stegmeier's message:

Following the robbery of a Western student reported on Thursday, October 15, 2009, a community alert was sent out via the Western Alert emergency communications system. After receiving the alert message, community members acted swiftly by contacting Bellingham Police and University Police with pertinent information regarding possible suspects. Acting on information provided by community members, including Western students, police were able to recover some of the property stolen and trace it back to suspects.

Yesterday afternoon, Bellingham Police and University Police arrested a 19-year-old Western student at his campus residence and booked him into the Whatcom County Jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery and trafficking in stolen property. Another 19-year-old Western student is being sought as a “person of interest” in this case, and a search warrant was executed at his campus residence.

Western Washington University continues to be a safe campus because of the community effort to protect persons and property.  The timely reporting of suspicious behaviors following the community alert led to the apprehension of one suspect, the identification of the second person of interest and the recovery of stolen property. Thanks to those who took action to keep our campus and community safe!

Anyone with additional information regarding this incident or any other potential threat to persons or property at the University is asked to call the “Safe Campus” phone line at 360-650-SAFE (360-650-7233), or the University Police at 360-650-3555.

Additional details are available in the press release from the Bellingham Police Department. View their document online at the City of Bellingham news site.