The suspect is taken into custody Sunday night as an officer examines the shoulder the suspect said was bitten (Image: Jacob Olson)

A suspected thief had a good portion of Capitol Hill working to take him into custody Sunday night after a laptop was swiped from a patron outside the Cafe Ladro at 15th and Republican, witnesses tell CHS. With a K9 unit working to find the suspect’s trail, it was a tip from an observant man taking a smoke break that eventually ended the caper.

Police closed off 13th Ave between John and Thomas around 9 PM Sunday after the suspected laptop mugger had reportedly been cornered by a “crowd” in a yard as he fled the scene of the Hilltop street robbery. One witness told CHS the suspect dropped the laptop as he fled and the computer was returned to the victim.

With the area surrounded, police began searching for the suspect with a K9 unit working to pick up his trail. It didn’t take long. We’re told a bystander outside to take a smoke saw the robbery suspect jump into bushes along E John and pointed the man out to police.

The suspect was taken into custody. Seattle Fire was called to the scene to treat the suspect for a reported dog bite.