Thief attacks 80-year-old man during car theft attempt
BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- A suspected car thief is now under arrest, accused of not only trying to steal a car, but attacking an 80-year-old man during the attempt.
The victim and a 77-year-old woman had just pulled into the Wendy's parking lot on Samish Way Monday afternoon to get some food, said Mark Young with Bellingham police. The woman got out to open the restaurant door for the 80-year-old man.
But as the man got out of the car, a car thief came up to the man and demanded his car keys, Young said. When the victim refused, the thief pushed the man to the ground, grabbed the keys and tried to drive away.
However, a Wendy's employee who recognized the victims ran out to stop the man from stealing the car, but she was struck by the car as the thief attempted to back out, Young said. She was not seriously hurt.
Young says two other witnesses ran over, got the thief out of the car, and pinned him to the ground while awaiting police.
Coincidentally, a parking officer for Western Washington University was driving by at the time, saw the melee and radioed for help. Police from Bellingham and WWU arrived and took the thief into custody, Young said.
Young identified their suspect as 31-year-old Reggie Williams. Williams told police he needed to get back to Snohomish County after trying to buy drugs in Bellingham earlier, Young said. He's been booked for investigation of robbery, assault and car theft.
Williams was in court on Tuesday, where a judge set his bail at $300,000. Prosecutors say he has a minor arrest record in the United States, but has been arrested for assault in Canada.
Meanwhile, the 80-year-old man was treated for his injuries at the scene, then he and the 77-year-old woman went into the restaurant and had their planned meal.
The victim and a 77-year-old woman had just pulled into the Wendy's parking lot on Samish Way Monday afternoon to get some food, said Mark Young with Bellingham police. The woman got out to open the restaurant door for the 80-year-old man.
But as the man got out of the car, a car thief came up to the man and demanded his car keys, Young said. When the victim refused, the thief pushed the man to the ground, grabbed the keys and tried to drive away.
However, a Wendy's employee who recognized the victims ran out to stop the man from stealing the car, but she was struck by the car as the thief attempted to back out, Young said. She was not seriously hurt.
Young says two other witnesses ran over, got the thief out of the car, and pinned him to the ground while awaiting police.
Coincidentally, a parking officer for Western Washington University was driving by at the time, saw the melee and radioed for help. Police from Bellingham and WWU arrived and took the thief into custody, Young said.
Young identified their suspect as 31-year-old Reggie Williams. Williams told police he needed to get back to Snohomish County after trying to buy drugs in Bellingham earlier, Young said. He's been booked for investigation of robbery, assault and car theft.
Williams was in court on Tuesday, where a judge set his bail at $300,000. Prosecutors say he has a minor arrest record in the United States, but has been arrested for assault in Canada.
Meanwhile, the 80-year-old man was treated for his injuries at the scene, then he and the 77-year-old woman went into the restaurant and had their planned meal.
Mugshot?
Yeah that's right. Ain't gonna make it easy for those dumb punk jackasses to put us down and give up without a fight!
It makes me sick to read about elderly people being assaulted. Glad it wasn't any worse than it was--and there were people around to help and the creeps were arrested.
I love to read stories when the people fight back.Â
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Good work!
Good for them. They didn't let that jack*** ruin their day!
Hopefully we won't be hearing that Wendy's fired all the employees who helped out.
Yea..it's always about friggin drugs isn't it? Hope he makes the front page of Loser Magazine.
I like that the couple still went and had their meal, hope they got it for free
Thank goodness for the Good Samaritans. It is nice to know that there are some people who still care. Glad they were there, and the senior couple was not seriously injured. Hope the thief rots in jail.
Takes a special kind of "man" to attack an elderly. Sheesh....throw the book and everything else at wayward Williams.
"Young says two other witnesses ran over, got the thief out of the car, and pinned him to the ground while awaiting police."
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This would never happen in Seattle. -- Kudos to the Good Samaritans; They DO exist.
 @Kermee thats BS, Seattle isnt as unfriendly as you think...every situation is different and as someone who lives here, I know.
 @ClickClackNW I'm obviously making a generalized statement. As a long time resident too, I agree with you that Seattle isn't as unfriendly as most people think. But long gone are the days of a 'smaller' community that bands together to make sure everyone around them is okay.
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I recently saw a pretty bad vehicle accident and watched people stop, take a picture with their smartphones, then drive off. Normally, I would of given people the benefit out the doubt that shortly after they drove off, they called 911 to report an accident, but I finally had to stop my vehicle, and was the first person to hop out and make sure everyone was okay before calling 911. I'd like to think most people's first reactions are an exception to the norm, but it's obvious it's not anymore.
 @Kermee definitely agree that communities are no longer communal in the sense that people talk, hang out and help each other but still, in all my travels, Seattle,Portland and Vancouver are the politest, friendliest big cities in North America.
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And I would attribute your car situation to driving within the city, as say vs. a small town but then again getting yelled and honked at would harden my feelings as well!
@ClickClackNW Actually I agree with Kermee that Good Samaritans are a dying breed. I ran out of gas once, on a busy street during the evening commute. I called the one person I knew would come rescue me but it was still a little over an hour before she could get there because of the traffic.
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Not one single car stopped. I had people flip me off and honk their horn at me as I am trying to push my car outta the middle of the road BY MYSELF. It was embarassing and made me realize that no one else gives a hoot about anyone but themselves.
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If I see someone broke down, I stop (when its safe). I might not be able to do anything except offer my phone for a call but its the prinicipal and support of having someone there for you when you are in a situation of need so you aren't alone. When I see a homeless person on the side of the road on a super hot day, I'll stop and get them an ice cold Gatorade. It helps others and honestly makes me feel better about myself.
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Good for you people who stood up and helped that elderly couple. There needs to be more people like you in this world!Â
 @tattooed_angel:Â
Your story reminds me of an incident I wsa involved in on southbound I-5 a few years ago.
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Traffic was slowed to a crawl approaching the 45th street overpass. When I finally got up there I found out why - a young woman with a small child was in a stalled car, blocking traffic. People were yelling at her, calling her obscene names, honking at her, flipping her off - the majority of them MEN in their big trucks.Â
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I stopped my car behind her & at an ankle to try to provide a traffic break, got out & pushed her car to the side of the road for her - despite the fact I was in a post-op boot. I was ALSO honked at, sworn at, called names, etc.
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But at least I got out & helped her - something NONE of the able-bodied cussers sreemed capable of doing.
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I've always believed in karma, what goes around comes around, paying it forward. Too bad more do not feel the same way.
I'm sorry you were stuck on the side of the road, as I could have easily been one of the people who drove by. That said, once you (read: me) get robbed trying to help someone, you become a little leary of helping anyone else who is not in a life or death situation.
 @Kermee We need more good Samaritans who stick together. Circle the wagons I say! And Good for them helping out, a great uplifting story to what could have been an awful sad story.
Everything worked out right this time, the thief was caught and noboby seriously hurt.
That was a great example of how people should get involved in stopping a crime.
I think this guy should get the book thrown at him. That 80 year old guy was probably no match for that car thief physically.
Note to thieves.
People are fighting back!
That's right. We're mad as heck and we're not going to take it any more. Hope the good people who tackled this loser got in a good punch or five before the police arrived.