BELLINGHAM, WA. – (KGMI.com) Two brothers were arrested in connection to separate crimes at a north Bellingham encampment last week.

Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy says officers were searching the illegal encampment behind Walmart last Tuesday, October 17th, for a man wanted on an assault charge.

24-year-old Keoni Wilson is alleged to have nearly chopped a man’s hand off with a machete in the encampment.

Officers were searching the encampment for Keoni when they encountered his older brother, 26-year-old Keo Wilson, who was wanted for multiple thefts at Hobby Lobby.

Keo has also been arrested for theft six times in the past 180 days in several locations, including Walgreens, Target and TJ Maxx.

After officers arrested him, they continued to search for his younger brother and found him in a tent.

Keoni refused to come out and officers executed a search warrant on the tent, where they found a sawed-off shotgun.

Both brothers remain at the Whatcom County Jail, Keoni on just over $230,000 bail and Keo without bail.