Police arrest one suspect in attack on cabbie

LYNNWOOD — Police have apprehended one of two men accused of robbing a cab driver at knifepoint near Lynnwood on Dec. 3.

The cab driver, 51, had been called to give someone a ride in the area of 164th Street SW and North Road about 11 p.m.

The cab driver was met by two men. One had a knife, the other said he had a gun, according to a police affidavit. The men beat the cab driver, prodded and jabbed him with the knife, forced him to take off his clothes and tried to make him empty out his bank account at an ATM. They also stole his cab and his wallet and threatened to kill his family.

Police found the victim with a bloodied face and blood dripping from his ear.

Earlier this week, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office

http:/www.heraldnet.com/article/20131209/NEWS01/712099826″>released surveillance video showing part of the robbery in hopes of identifying the suspects.

Behind the scenes, a sheriff’s sergeant already was developing information, court papers show. The telephone number used to call the cab driver had been disconnected. The sergeant searched multiple police databases until he found the number in an old Everett police report. The number was associated with Eric Johnson, 27, of Lynnwood. Johnson had a history of assault.

Johnson’s jail booking photo from March appeared to match one of the men seen in the video, according to the affidavit. Investigators believe Johnson may have tried a similar style robbery on a cab driver in the area a few days later but ran way before going through with it.

Police then obtained a search warrant for phone records related to the calls the suspects made to the cab service. They found text messages reportedly identifying Johnson as someone using the phones, court papers say.

Text messages allegedly showed Johnson was “desperate for finding money,” officers wrote in the report.

Johnson was arrested Thursday and booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree robbery, first-degree kidnapping and second-degree assault. He also has been charged with robbery.

Police are seeking his accomplice, sheriff’s spokeswoman Shari Ireton said Friday.

The second suspect is described as a white man, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. He was wearing glasses when the crime occurred.

Anyone with information should call 425-388-3845. Tips can be anonymous.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Girl, 11, missing from Lynnwood

Sha’niece Watson’s family is concerned for her safety, according to the sheriff’s office. She has ties to Whidbey Island.

A cyclist crosses the road near the proposed site of a new park, left, at the intersection of Holly Drive and 100th Street SW on Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett to use $2.2M for Holly neighborhood’s first park

The new park is set to double as a stormwater facility at the southeast corner of Holly Drive and 100th Street SW.

The Grand Avenue Park Bridge elevator after someone set off a fire extinguisher in the elevator last week, damaging the cables and brakes. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Grand Avenue Park Bridge vandalized, out of service at least a week

Repairs could cost $5,500 after someone set off a fire extinguisher in the elevator on April 27.

Biologist Kyle Legare measures a salmon on a PUD smolt trap near Sportsman Park in Sultan, Washington on May 6, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Low Chinook runs endanger prime fishing rivers in Snohomish County

Even in pristine salmon habitat like the Sultan, Chinook numbers are down. Warm water and extreme weather are potential factors.

Lynnwood
Car hits pedestrian pushing stroller in Lynnwood, injuring baby, adult

The person was pushing a stroller on 67th Place W, where there are no sidewalks, when a car hit them from behind, police said.

Snohomish County Courthouse. (Herald file)
Everett substitute judge faces discipline for forged ‘joke’ document

David Ruzumna, a judge pro tem, said it was part of a running gag with a parking attendant. The Commission on Judicial Conduct wasn’t laughing.

Boeing firefighters union members and supporters hold an informational picket at Airport Road and Kasch Park Road on Monday, April 29, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Biden weighs in on Boeing lockout of firefighters in Everett, elsewhere

On Thursday, the president expressed support for the firefighters, saying he was “concerned” Boeing had locked them out over the weekend.

Marysville
Marysville high school office manager charged with sex abuse of student

Carmen Phillips, 37, sent explicit messages to a teen at Heritage High School, then took him to a park, according to new charges.

Bothell
1 dead after fatal motorcycle crash on Highway 527

Ronald Lozada was riding south when he crashed into a car turning onto the highway north of Bothell. He later died.

Riaz Khan finally won office in 2019 on his fifth try. Now he’s running for state Legislature. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Ex-Democratic leader from Mukilteo switches parties for state House run

Riaz Khan resigned from the 21st Legislative District Democrats and registered to run as a Republican, challenging Rep. Strom Peterson.

Tlingit Artist Fred Fulmer points to some of the texture work he did on his information totem pole on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at his home in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
11-foot totem pole, carved in Everett, took 35 years to make — or 650

The pole crafted by Fred Fulmer is bound for Alaska, in what will be a bittersweet sendoff Saturday in his backyard.

Shirley Sutton
Sutton resigns from Lynnwood council, ‘effective immediately’

Part of Sutton’s reason was her “overwhelming desire” to return home to the Yakima Valley.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.