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Intoxicated people targeted in string of Capitol Hill robberies

Seattle police are looking for suspects in a string of at least 22 violent robberies on Capitol Hill since August.
In most of the cases the suspects steal cell phones from intoxicated people.

"A lot of the victims have been highly intoxicated and a lot of the robberies occur between midnight and four [a.m.]," Seattle Police Department Spokesman Drew Fowler. 

Sterling Olsson was robbed at gunpoint in September. 

"I noticed two people trailing me. I thought once I got to my car I'd be good to go, but they were armed and forced me out of the car basically," Olsson added. "They emptied my pockets got my keys, my phone, hit me with a gun, got in the car took off."

One of the two suspects in his robbery was arrested in Los Angeles a week after Olsson was robbed.
Seventeen-year-old Rayshon Blackwell was arrested. Police said he was in Olsson's car.

Blackwell was extradited to Washington yesterday and is being held in the King County Jail on $500,000 bail for robbery. Blackwell told investigators that he committed at least 15 robberies on Capitol Hill.

According to court documents, another suspect in the case told detectives he "targets intoxicated people and many times these people will drop their phones."
Polilce said the suspect also stated he would approach people and go through their pockets and take their belongings without their knowledge.

"We're still sorting all the players involved and working to find who did this and put them in jail,"' Fowler said.

Fowler added that anyone walking around at night on Capitol Hill should try not to walk alone.

"if you as a person who is walking home on Capitol Hill tonight maybe go in pairs or one less drink if that keeps your faculties a little more intact," Fowler added. "[If robbed] call 911 as quickly as you can if they go to a car a license plate is golden for us. and walk in pairs and keep yourself safe but have a great time on Halloween."

Blackwell will be arraigned on robbery charges in King County on November 13. 

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