19-year-old Middelburg man arrested after fatbike robbery at gunpoint
Authorities arrested a 19-year-old Middelburg resident Saturday afternoon after he allegedly robbed a fatbike at gunpoint in the Dauwendaele neighborhood, police reports.
The victim, a 16-year-old boy, was riding a fatbike belonging to his girlfriend around 1 p.m. on Buitenhovelaan when he encountered a group of acquaintances in a nearby park. Among them was the suspect, unknown to the victim at the time.
The suspect asked the victim to give him a ride on the fatbike. After reaching the requested destination, the suspect reportedly pulled out a pistol and threatened the victim, demanding the fatbike. The suspect then fled the scene on the stolen bike.
The victim immediately contacted police, who traced the stolen fatbike to a Middelburg address through its tracking signal. Officers recovered the bike and shortly after apprehended the suspect.
Authorities are now investigating the suspect's possible involvement in additional crimes, as descriptions matching the suspect and his method of threatening with a firearm have appeared in multiple reports.
