University Place Robbery Suspect Arrested: Sheriff

UNIVERSITY PLACE, WA — The Pierce County Sheriff's Department asked the community for help identifying a robbery suspect who stole several items from the Quick Stop Mart in University Place and then threatened the clerk during an incident late last month, and they weren't disappointed.

In a tweet shared Thursday morning, sheriff's officials said the quick community response resulted in the Wednesday night arrest of a 27-year-old suspect, who has not been formally identified.

The robbery that initially began as simple shoplifting occurred around 8 p.m. April 28 at 8216 27th St. W. Security cameras at the convenience store captured high resolution images of the suspect loading his pockets with merchandise as he browsed the market.

As the suspect went to leave the store the clerk confronted him. In response, the suspect pushed his hand into his coat and said he was holding a weapon and that he didn't want to "hurt" the clerk.

The suspect then fled on a red bicycle.

"While this incident may have started as just a theft, it became a robbery when the suspect threatened the victim that he had a weapon," sheriff's officials wrote on Facebook. "We take these crimes very seriously — especially in light of recent events in our community."