Officer recognized for role in catching suspected robber

Langley Police Officer Mason Shoudy was formally honored by the City of Langley on Monday night for his role in catching an alleged gas station robber.

Shoudy was given “special recognition” for “meritorious service to the City of Langley and South Whidbey community” by Mayor Tim Callison for catching a suspect, 24-year-old Jonathan “Lexzi” Zupan, in two armed robberies of Naomi’s Mobil gas station at the Langley City Council’s regular monthly meeting on Dec. 4.

Just after 10 p.m. on Nov. 20, Shoudy was northbound on Langley Road behind the gas station when he saw a vehicle with no lights on parked on a dirt road that accesses the parking lot.

Shoudy approached the vehicle on foot and recognized it as being associated with Zupan, who was a “person of interest” in the case.

According to the police report, Zupan was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, which matched the suspect seen in the surveillance video from the robberies. Officers looked inside the car and saw a black jacket and a handgun, which was partially obscured under the front seat. Both appeared to be the same as those seen in the surveillance video.

Officers conducted a search warrant of Zupan’s vehicle and found clothing and the long-barreled gun used in the robbery, according to a news release. Zupan was taken into custody and later booked into Island County Jail.