Five Garfield players arrested on suspicion of robbery assault

Six Garfield High School students, including five football players, were arrested last Thursday on suspicion of robbery assault in connection with two separate incidents last week.

Police arrested the five players Thursday afternoon when they got off the bus for practice at Wilson Pacific Field. The sixth student, an ineligible football player, turned himself in later. The students were interrogated and released to their parents Thursday evening. They have not been booked or charged, but Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson said they could be charged by the end of the week.

The players, whose names were redacted in the arrest report obtained Tuesday, were suspended by coach Anthony Allen and principal Ted Howard for Friday's 34-0 loss to Franklin. Allen and Howard are meeting with the players' parents Wednesday evening, and they will determine future punishment afterward. Four of the players are starters, Allen said.

"Coach Allen and school district officials were rather helpful," said Det. Lynn Carver, the arresting officer.

The students are suspected in assaults during an attempted robbery on Sept. 10 and a robbery on Sept. 12. Both assaults occurred in Capitol Hill shortly after the players left football practice. Two victims suffered cuts and bruises to the face. Five boys are suspected in each incident, with four suspected to be involved with both incidents.

Carver said that on Sept. 12, three suspects assaulted and robbed a 32-year-old male while two suspects waited in a car down the block. Carver said the suspects stole the man's messenger bag, which contained a laptop and iPod, and his wallet, which contained cash and credit cards.

Carver said the suspects used the cash for a McDonald's dinner and the victim has reported no use on the credit cards. The laptop and iPod have been returned to the victim. The bag and some of its contents were disposed of in a dumpster near Seattle Center, police said.

On Sept. 10, according to the police, the suspects attempted to rob two males, ages 23 and 25, but they fled for the car when one of the victims yelled for help, but not before at least one of the suspects struck one of the victims from behind. Again, three boys approached the victims while two stayed in the car.

Tom Wyrwich: 206-515-5653 or twyrwich@seattletimes.com