BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham Police were dispatched about 10am today, Monday, February 7th, to the 1200 block of N State Street due to a report of an armed robbery at a bank.
Initial unconfirmed emergency radio transmissions reported the suspect had presented a note and it was inferred he had a gun during the robbery. The suspect fled prior to law enforcement’s arrival.
A detailed description of the male suspect was provided to law enforcement.
Bellingham Police Department (BPD) Lieutenant Claudia Murphy said detectives were called out and the suspect was identified as Martin Mora-Lopez, age 32 of Bellingham.
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Click for more informationAccording to unconfirmed emergency radio transmissions about 1pm, Mora-Lopez was sighted a few blocks away. Murphy said he was located and arrested without incident.
Bank employees called 911 after Mora-Lopez came into the bank and demanded cash. Mora-Lopez left the bank on foot with an undisclosed amount of cash.
BPD K9 Destro and his handler responded to the bank robbery and tracked away from the scene. Though, the suspect was not located, K-9 Destro was able to find several items of clothing discarded by Mora-Lopez as he fled.
A BPD officer recognized Mora-Lopez from an earlier morning trespass call, where he was wearing the exact clothing as the suspect during the bank robbery.
Mora-Lopez was booked into the Whatcom County Jail for 1st degree robbery and 3rd degree theft.
I believe the suspect would have “implied” the presence of a weapon; the victim would have “inferred” same.
Good point. Got tangled while working from what was reported to police and trying to stay close to the wording chosen. Thank you for helping.