BELLINGHAM - A cab driver was given an award by the Bellingham Police Department Tuesday, Feb. 21, for her assistance in the arrest of a man who allegedly took hostages at Target and stole about $20,000 in December 2010.

Elise Heyne, a Yellow Cab driver, was given the Citizen Commendation award, which is presented to citizens who have aided the police department or its members.

Bellingham Police Officer Ben Vodopich shared the details of the arrest with a room of about 40 officers and police department employees during Tuesday's brief ceremony at the police station. Police Chief Todd Ramsay presented Heyne with the award.

"This is the best cab story I have," Heyne remarked to a laugh after receiving the award.

In December 2010, Larry Jay Schabert allegedly robbed the Bellis Fair Target store at knifepoint and used packing tape to tie up two employees in the cash room, Vodopich said.

Schabert left the store on a bike with bags filled with about $20,000 in cash, Vodopich said.

Police notified public transit and local cab companies with Schabert's description. They soon received a call from Yellow Cab about a client with a bike who wanted to be picked up at Cost Cutter, 4131 Meridian St., and be taken to Mount Vernon with a stop in Everett, Vodopich said.

Heyne responded to the call. Police had her park in the back of the parking lot, so Schabert would have to walk across the lot, away from the busy storefront, to get to the cab, Vodopich said.

Heyne said she didn't know the details of the crime, only that it was a robbery.

"I was a little nervous, but I had all the doors locked," she said.

Two men approached the cab with their bikes; officers quickly stepped in and arrested them.

Police found cash linked to the robbery and a 51/2-inch knife on Schabert.

The other man was not involved in the Target robbery but was arrested on drug-related charges.

Schabert never went to trial. The charges were dropped after he attempted to hang himself in his jail cell; he damaged his spinal cord, suffering severe cognitive and physical impairment that likely is permanent.

For Tuesday's ceremony, Heyne was accompanied by her father Greg, her 23-month-old son Kade, his nanny Amy Kronenberg, and boyfriend Warren King.

"It's wonderful she is able to gain recognition for the things she does in the community," her father said. "I believe the community should step up and do more. We're very proud."

Correction: The spelling of Kade's name and the Bellingham police chief's name were corrected Feb. 22.