Accused shoplifter faces felony assault charge for attacking employee at Bellingham Mall
Authorities arrested a shoplifting suspect who is also accused of assaulting an employee the afternoon of Nov. 17 at Macy’s in the Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham.
The suspect, identified as Preston Eugene Richardson, 42, allegedly attempted to shoplift multiple clothing items from the store when he was stopped by an employee. The suspect then attacked the employee, punching them multiple times in the face, according to Megan Peters with the Bellingham Police Department.
Police were nearby and were provided with a description of the Richardson, who they found in the parking lot.
Richardson has since been charged with first-degree robbery, a class A felony.
Editor’s note (Dec. 2): This article has been updated to include charges and the suspect’s name.
This story was originally published November 20, 2024 at 10:13 AM.
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