BELLINGHAM - A man suspected of brandishing a knife at a downtown Bellingham gas station attendant was arrested Tuesday evening, Nov. 13.

Hunter Hicks, 18, and a friend are suspected of walking into the Shell station on East Holly Street at 1:45 p.m. Monday, snagging an 18-pack of Icehouse beer and breaking for the door, said Bellingham police spokesman Mark Young.

Hicks jumped on a skateboard and headed downhill on Holly while the cashier chased after him, Young said. When the employee, Chris Hunt, got within arm's reach, the suspect whipped out a butcher knife and waved it at him.

Hunt backed off, but a passing driver followed the shoplifters to an alley behind Copper Hog, 1327 N. State St. The boarder crashed during his getaway, so police were looking for someone with scrapes and bruises.

The Shell station had security footage of the theft and gave it to police. Officers used "investigative techniques" - Young declined to elaborate on what that meant - to track down the other suspect, Kevin Alexander Shinn, 18. He was cited for shoplifting.

Hicks and his skateboard were taken into custody about 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at his apartment in the same block as the alley he fled to. The beer wasn't recovered.

Hicks was booked into jail on investigation of first-degree robbery and two warrants for failing to show up for court dates. He has a history of theft and drug crime.