Vancouver police detectives, after setting up surveillance at two east Vancouver homes Wednesday, said they have arrested two men in the March 20 armed robbery of the Best Western Hotel in the Fircrest area.
Jacob Hathaway, 21, of Vancouver is suspected of first-degree robbery, criminal conspiracy, possessing a stolen vehicle and other offenses, according to a police bulletin.
Joshua Rich, 26, also a Vancouver resident, is being held for alleged first-degree robbery and criminal conspiracy, the bulletin said.
On March 20, officers rushed to the hotel at 11506 N.E. Third St., where employees were robbed at gunpoint by a man.
Detectives with the East Precinct Neighborhood Response Team jumped on the case immediately, the bulletin said.
Two days after the hold-up, police issued a bulletin with a security video of the robbery to news outlets.
The bulletin said tips came in and detectives developed a suspect, Hathaway. Patrol officers found him Sunday in a suspected stolen car at a Lowe’s store at 18801 S.E. Mill Plain Blvd. and arrested him.
Further investigation ensued.
On Wednesday, while detectives watched two homes, Dewayne Osborne arrived at one and soon drove away with Rich as his passenger, the bulletin said.
Detectives in unmarked cars and regular patrol officers followed the Ford Ranger truck and arrested the two men at gunpoint.
Hathaway and Rich were held without bail and are to appear in Superior Court this morning.
Osborne was taken into custody on a warrant out of Skamania County for other matters unrelated to the robbery, the bulletin said.
Here is a press release from the Vancouver Police Department:
News Release from: Vancouver Police Dept.
SUSPECTS ARRESTED IN BEST WESTERN HOTEL ROBBERY FROM 03/20/12
Posted: March 28th, 2012 7:13 PM
On 03/20/12, the Best Western Hotel located at 11506 NE 3rd Street in Vancouver, was robbed at gunpoint by a white male adult. Detectives with the East Precinct Neighborhood Response Team immediately began working on the investigation. On March 22nd, a news release was provided to local media including a surveillance photograph of the suspect. Based on tips received by the East Precinct NRT Team, a suspect was identified as Vancouver resident, Jacob R Hathaway, 02/07/1991. On 03/25/12 Jacob Hathaway was arrested by VPD East Precinct patrol officers while Hathaway was occupying a stolen car in the area of Lowes on SE Mill Plain in East Vancouver. NRT Detectives investigating the Robbery responded. Additional investigation was conducted and a second suspect, Vancouver resident Joshua A Rich, 10/09/1979 was identified. On 03/28/12 East Precinct NRT Detectives set up surveillance at two residences in East Vancouver. A subject, Dewayne A Osborne, 11/25/85, was observed arriving at one of the target locations alone in a Ford Ranger pickup and then leaving shortly after with a second male in the passenger seat. NRT Detectives in undercover non-police vehicles and marked patrol cars followed and requested further assistance from VPD Patrol Officers. Dewayne Osborne initially attempted to flee from Officers into a neighborhood north of NE 18th Street at NE 129th Avenue. After looping through the neighborhood, Dewayne eventually pulled over in the 13100 block of NE 18th Street. A high risk stop was conducted. Dewayne Osborn and his passenger, Joshua Rich were both detained and transported to East Precinct. The Ford Ranger driven by Osborn was impounded with the intent of a search warrant being requested and served for additional evidence related to the Best Western Robbery.
After interviews both subjects were transported to jail and booked. Below are the listed charges on all three subjects:
Jacob Hathaway: 1 count of Robbery 1; 1 count of Criminal Conspiracy, 1 count of Violation of a No Contact Order (related to contact with a family member during this investigation); 1 Count of Possession of Stolen Property II (the stolen vehicle) and one Department of Corrections arrest warrant
Joshua Rich: 1 count of Robbery 1 and 1 count of Criminal Conspiracy
Dewayne Osborne: Superior Court Arrest Warrant out of Skamania County; traffic related charges of reckless driving are referred to the city attorney
Additional investigation continues
This release was prepared by East Precinct Neighborhood Response Team Sergeant Steven Dobbs
No further investigation is being released at this time
