University Police, parking officers assist in arrest of car-theft suspect on Samish Way

Reggie W. Williams, a 31 year old Snohomish County man, was arrested for robbery and other charges following a failed vehicle theft attempt, according to a press release from the Bellingham Police Department Tuesday morning.

According to the release, the 80-year-old male victim drove with his 77-year-old female passenger into the parking lot of the Wendy’s restaurant on Samish Way Monday afternoon to get some food. After parking, the female passenger got out to open the restaurant door for the man. Just as he got out of his car, Williams approached him and demanded his car keys, the release said. The victim refused to hand them over. Williams assaulted the 80-year-old man by pushing him to the ground, police said. Williams grabbed the keys, got in the car and attempted to drive away.

An employee from Wendy’s who saw the assault and knew the victims as regular customers ran out to stop the suspect from leaving. As the employee tried to stop the suspect, she was knocked to the ground as the suspect attempted to back out, police said. Two other witnesses who saw the assault jumped in, got the suspect out of the car and pinned him to the pavement.

As the events were unfolding, a Western Washington University Parking Control Officer was driving by and radioed the incident to his dispatcher. A responding University Police officer along with officers from the Bellingham Police Department arrived to take the suspect into custody.

The suspect told the officers he needed to get back to Snohomish County after trying to buy drugs in Bellingham earlier, according to the release.

The 80-year-old male victim was treated and released at the scene by paramedics from the Bellingham Fire Department. After the assault, he and his partner remained at the restaurant to enjoy their meal. The Wendy’s employee received minor injuries that did not require medical treatment.

Reggie W. Williams, 31, was booked into the Whatcom County Jail for first-degree robbery, first-degree assault and theft of a motor vehicle.