Kent Police arrested a 21-year-old Auburn man for investigation of first-degree robbery in connection with the theft of a large sword and a carjacking Tuesday on the West Hill.
The incident started at about 2:15 p.m. Tuesday when a 29-year-old Kent woman called police to report that a man had entered her apartment in the 23600 block of Pacific Highway South while brandishing a handgun and stole a sword, according to a Kent Police media release.
The man then fled the apartment and ran onto the campus of Highline Community College, which adjoins the apartment complex.
Moments later, Des Moines Police were notified that a carjacking had just occurred on the college campus. In that case, a man matching the description of the sword thief took a car from a 21-year-old Burien man, while brandishing a sword and firearm.
No one was hurt in either incident.
Kent and Des Moines officers converged on the area and within minutes located the car abandoned in the Kings Arms motel parking lot, 23226 30th Ave. S., about one-half mile from the crime scene.
Police surrounded the motel and worked with motel management to evacuate and search the complex. Residents were brought to a nearby staging area to ensure their safety and identify additional witnesses.
Kent detectives worked with witnesses and victim accounts as well as video-surveillance tape from the area to piece together the two incidents.
Detectives arrested the man at about 5:30 p.m. while he stood among the residents of the motel. Detectives learned that the man reportedly shared a Kings Arms motel room with acquaintances, although the man listed Auburn as a home address.
“The quick actions of the crime victims in both these incidents, combined with great field work by patrol officers and detectives from Des Moines and Kent is what produced this arrest,” Kent Police Lt. Randy Bourne stated. “We’re grateful for the assistance of all involved.”
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office is expected to charge the man Aug. 11 with first-degree robbery, said Pat Lowery, Kent Police spokesman.
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