A marijuana retail shop was robbed on February 2nd just before 10:00pm. By shortly after 11:00pm, patrol officers located the suspect vehicle and through further investigation James M. Dean, 26, Angelica E. Willard, 26, and Cecelia C. Morris, 28, were arrested for Robbery 1st Degree and Theft 1st Degree.
On 2-7-19 officers responded to an alarm at 2020 Solutions and determined an armed robbery occurred. The suspect, later identified as Dean, came into the store armed with a knife, mask covering part of his face, demanded money and told everyone (customers and staff included) to get on the ground. Dean made off with $5,500.00 in cash and stole the employee tip jars on the way out the door. No one was injured during the robbery. Dean ran out of the store and was witnessed getting into grey older van parked nearby. Patrol officers began looking for the suspect vehicle and located it at a gas station on Meridian Street approximately an hour later. Willard and Morris were contacted inside the suspect vehicle and admitted to driving to 2020 Solutions earlier, along with Dean.
Patrol officers responded to an address in the 3800 block of Primrose and contacted Dean there. Based on the totality of the investigation to this point, probable cause was developed for Dean, Willard and Morris for Robbery 1st degree and Theft 1st degree. All three were booked into the Whatcom County Jail.
Based on evidence discovered during the investigation of this robbery, detectives will begin the process of determining whether Dean, Willard and Morris are connected to or responsible for any of the previous robberies which have taken place over the past several weeks.
Chief Doll said, “The collaboration of excellent descriptive information from the public, along with a hard-working, dedicated police crew resulted in a robbery team’s capture. I am so proud of the tenacity of our patrol officers, and support personnel, who were able to act upon public reporting information – a true example of community policing and offender accountability.”
