BELLINGHAM, Wash. — A man arrested and charged with 1st-degree robbery suspected of brandishing a taser device at a store employee while attempting to leave with unpaid products, has also been charged with 2nd-degree robbery related to a similar incident about 14 hours earlier at a different Bellingham retail business.
According to an affidavit prepared by Bellingham Police and filed in Whatcom County Superior Court by prosecutors, police were dispatched about 10pm on January 29th to a report of a robbery at a business in the 1400 block of 12th Street in Bellingham.
Police were told a man and woman loaded 2 shopping baskets with bottles of whisky and attempted to leave the store without paying for them. An employee was able to grab a basket from the woman but the man brandished “a handheld stun device” that was sparking while he yelled at the employee. The man then fled the store with the bottles. Store security video captured the incident.
Police were unable to locate the suspect.
Robert L Dennis III was arrested by Bellingham Police the next day suspected of robbery in a similar incident.
Dennis now faces charges of 1st-degree and 2nd-degree robbery in Superior Court.
As of February 8th, Dennis remained in custody pending being able to post a $20,000 bond or $2,000 cash.
Dennis has prior theft and robbery felony convictions.