Small Business Saturday turned into an intense scenario at the Ulta Beauty store in the 17100 block of Redmond Way.
At about 5:20 p.m. on Nov. 29, six units from the Redmond Police Department (RPD) descended upon the retail shop after an employee recognized one of the customers from Washington’s Most Wanted Facebook page and called police. RPD officers took into custody 18-year-old fugitive Precious Shabazz, who was wanted in a number of crimes in King and Pierce counties, including a violent Nov. 5 downtown Seattle robbery where she kicked and punched a store employee, according to Janessa Rosick, public information coordinator for the RPD.
When officers arrived, Shabazz and her accomplice bolted from the store. While she was being chased, Shabazz slowed down and was captured, but her companion escaped.
“There was no struggle,” Rosick said of Shabazz’s arrest. Redmond police notified the Seattle Police Department and transferred Shabazz into their officers’ custody and she was booked into King County Jail on investigation of robbery. After RPD officers caught Shabazz, they found her in possession of stolen items, including perfume and cosmetics products.
Rosick said the employee wasn’t aware of any shoplifting, she just matched Shabazz’s online photo with the customer browsing in the store.
“It’s one of those cases where people do what we ask them to do: If you see anything suspicious, call 911,” Rosick said.
Shabazz’s accomplice is described as a black male, 5-foot-10 and in his late teens or early 20s. Officers set up a perimeter around the area, but didn’t locate him. Redmond police are assembling a photo lineup to show the reporting party.
The Ulta employee and manager declined to be interviewed for this story.