Russell Deviney, jail booking photos (Courtesy of KPTV/Portland)

CANNON BEACH, Ore. (KPTV) — Russell Wayne Deviney, 48, of Everett, Wash., who is accused of kidnapping a teenage girl from California and leaving her in Astoria, Ore., was arrested Thursday in Cannon Beach.

KPTV in Portland reported that at 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Cannon Beach police said Deviney was found behind a locked gate in a privately owned wooded area just south of the coastal city.

A passerby spotted him and called police. When officers asked his name, he said, “I’m the guy you’re looking for,” according to police.

The investigation began at 7:30 p.m. Monday when a 15-year-old girl left at a McDonald’s in Astoria, Ore., said she had been kidnapped.

The FBI had been searching for the teenager, who was reported missing out of Sanger, Calif., on Saturday.

Deviney allegedly left the girl at McDonald’s and took off.

Deviney’s 2004 Nissan pickup truck was later found by police, but Deviney remained on the loose.

On Tuesday night, surveillance cameras captured a person believed to be Deviney at the U Street Pub in Seaside, Ore. Witnesses said the man asked questions about how to get to Cannon Beach and was traveling on foot.

Police said Deviney was arrested without incident Thursday. He is facing charges including kidnapping, rape and sex abuse.

Astoria Deputy Police Chief Eric Halverson said the girl in this case believed she had been communicating online with a 19-year-old, KPTV reported.

“Once she realized the person she was meeting actually was a 48-year-old man, she was already in the vehicle and under Deviney’s control,” Halverson said. “The investigation indicates that the girl’s phone was disabled by Deviney and she was able to surreptitiously send a message to her mother at one point.”

The 15-year-old girl was later reunited with her family, who drove up from their home in Sanger.

To read more on this and see the video, go to KPTV/Portland by clicking here.

SEATTLE — Detectives need your help to solve a high-end heist at a local jewelry store.

Olga Afichuk said the two captured on surveillance video took their time acting like customers, spending nearly an hour inside Shubad Jewelers.

“Every other word was bro,” said Olga. “Bro this, bro that, he was like, ‘I need to see this bro, give me that, bro.’ He was referring me as me as bro, to the man as bro, to anyone as bro.”

Olga said one of them flashed a wad of cash, making it seem like he was ready to do business.

“He actually put something on hold so we saw him as a repeat customer even though he hasn’t bought something yet,” she said.

The thieves were looking at a solid, 21-karat, handcrafted gold necklace.

“The suspect even has the gall to put it on his neck, walks around for another 5 minutes,” said retired detective Myrle Carner with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound. “Then all of a sudden, boom. He bolts for the door.”

In a flash, the crook was out the door with the loot and all the way through the mall with an employee giving chase.

“He chases him out to the parking lot where one of the suspects pulls a gun, points it at him and says, ‘Stop following me or I’ll kill ya,’” added Carner.

Cops think the suspects took off in a white pickup truck.

Olga said the $16,000 loss is a huge blow to the businesses.

“This is not a large corporation where something like this gets swept under the table by insurance companies and that’s it,” said Olga. “This is taking out of our pay checks; this is taking out of our small business.”

Crime Stoppers is offering up to a $1,000 for someone who can identify the suspects.

If you know anything about this case, call 1-800-222-TIPS.

WANTED IN SEATTLE —
It is a sinking feeling to come outside and find your car window smashed out, but sadly because there are so many low-life crooks cruising our streets, it’s happening more often.

Fortunately, some homeowners now have great surveillance cameras and we’ve got really clear shots of two suspects in action.

Here’s Myrle Carner with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound, to take us through the video in hopes you can put names to their faces.

“You’ll see where they pull by the victim’s vehicle very slowly, then they’re even going to back up and pull parallel looking into the vehicle, then they leave again. Next thing, two guys get out of it, out of the truck, come back, actually look in the vehicle again, get back in the vehicle that they came in, the box truck, and they leave. The next thing you know the vehicle’s coming parallel to the victim’s car. At this point, sliding door opens, one of the suspects gets out, runs around to the passenger door and uses some kind of device, boom, breaks the windows. This is like a 15-second deal at most. Grabs the purse, back into the vehicle and they’re gone.

“If you leave your purse or your computer or other valuable things in plain sight, you know, you’re just kind of asking for it. I’m not blaming the victim because it happens a lot.”

So take another look at both suspects, somebody’s got to know these two driving around in a big utility van.

They have the license plate number, but so far it hasn’t been helpful in identifying the crooks.

If you know their names, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips and collect the cash reward. You will be paid up to $1,000 for any information that helps lead to their arrest.

WANTED BY DOC IN SPOKANE COUNTY —
Joshua Lamb is on the lam — wanted for escape and failing to register as a sex offender in Spokane County.

He was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2005 and has failed to register three times since.

Lamb is a high-violent offender who’s been busted for a ton of other crimes as well, including assault, burglary, theft, forgery, resisting arrest and drugs.

If you know how to get him back on the map in Spokane County, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips.

WANTED IN TACOMA —
Recognize this burglar caught on a homeowner’s surveillance camera?

Tacoma police do and say he’s this man — Robert Ager — who goes by the nickname “Gator.”

He used a prybar to bust into the home and detectives say it wasn’t his only break-in.

Tacoma Police Department’s Loretta Cool said, “Right now there’s two outstanding felony warrants for his arrest. He’s already committed two burglaries, we know that he’s pawning or selling the stolen property.”

If you know how to help Tacoma Police hunt down “Gator”, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips.

WANTED IN FEDERAL WAY —
Federal way detectives need your help tonight tracking down a prolific identity thief.

Take a good look at Terry Durnil and make sure he’s not your neighbor right now.

He’s wanted on more than 10 counts of ID theft, fraud and counterfeiting.

Detectives say he lives rent free by using a sophisticated scam to illegally hop from one apartment or condo to the next and it starts with him targeting his neighbor’s mail.

Cathy Schrock of the Federal Way Police Department said, “He steals mail and then takes those identities, opens bank accounts, rents or leases apartments or condominiums, then he moves into these condos and he’s paid with these fraudulent checks where he just opened an account, writes a check, it’s already closed and then the condo or apartment owners take months to evict him.

“He usually, in our case, he had a female accomplice, her name is Raechel Miller. She’s actually been charged connected to his case and is pending trial.

“When they finally do get the eviction process he and his accomplice will rent a UHaul truck that’s also fraudulent and then use that to move their stuff to the next place.”

Detectives say the pair could still be together and have pulled their scam all over King and Pierce counties.

Investigators say Durnil even used his victim’s names for an auto repair business he used to own in Pacific called “My Own Auto Repair.”

If you know where this this prolific identity thief is hiding tonight, or maybe he’s renting out the apartment or condo next to you right now, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips.

Time now to ask a cop.

Dan: “If i get pulled over coming home from a hunting trip, how do I properly tell the officer I have a rifle in the back seat of my truck, or any weapon in my vehicle for that matter?”

Pierce County sheriff’s detective Ed Troyer has the answer.

“Hey Dan, that’s a good question, we actually appreciate you asking because the officers do want to know if you have a weapon in the car. The way to handle that is if you have a rifle in the back of your car because you’re out hunting or for some other reason, you’re transporting it from the range, what you want to do is just keep your hands on the steering wheel and the first thing you want to do is look at the officer with your hands visible and say, ‘I have a weapon in the back of the car’ and explain to them why you do and that will probably take care of it. If the officer needs more information they’ll talk to you but we really thank you for being cooperative and appreciate that you do that when weapons are involved or you’re transporting them.”

TACOMA — “This was on a really dark, rainy blustery October evening,” recalls Tacoma Det. Vicki Chittick.

The death of Ronald Mckellar is one of the more bizarre cases she’s worked.

It was just after midnight on October 4, 2008. Ron and his friend left Peewee’s Tavern on 72nd street in Tacoma after an evening of drinking. Det. Chittick says, “About 15 or 20 minutes after midnight Ronald’s friend decided he needed to leave and catch the last bus before they stop running to go home.” The two left the tavern together and started walking across the street to the bus stop. “Ronald’s friend was wearing a bright yellow rain suit and he crosses the street directly from the tavern over to the bus stop and as he reaches the curb he hears Ron call out his name. He looks back and he sees Ron approximately in the turn lane following him across the street,” Det. Chittick explains. “His back is to Ron and he hears a thud noise, and he turns around and he sees a car driving off and Ron’s gone.” Just like that, in a matter of seconds, Ron had vanished into the night almost without a trace. “He’s like, ‘What just happened and where’s my friend?'” As he looked around, he discovered Ron’s hat nearby, but still no sign of the man who was just a few feet behind him before he just disappeared.

Then — 12 blocks away — someone spotted a man lying in the middle of the road. Det. Chittick says, “Medical got a call that there was a body at 64th and C Street.”

It was Ron. He somehow got caught under a car and was dragged more than half a mile.

Police are still trying to piece together how something like this happens. Det. Chittick isn’t sure but says, “It’s a possibility that if you didn’t see him, it was dark and he was wearing dark clothing, if for some reason he stopped in the roadways and knelt down, perhaps. It’s a long way to drag something under your car, but if you were under the influence it’s possible that you might not have known. But there’s just no way of knowing until we have more information.”

There was no evidence left behind at the scene, but there was a witness who may have seen everything. A woman who heard the crash raced across the street to see if everyone was okay. Det. Chittick continues, “This person comes out, they live behind Peewee’s Tavern and they saw a grey Jeep Cherokee pull into the Rite Aid lot. Right into this area she contacts the driver who got out and describes him as being an older white male, approximately in his 50’s, who’s got gray hair and was wearing a gray jacket and jeans. She asked him if he’s alright or needed help and he said, ‘I’m not part of the accident. A car just hit a pedestrian, but we don’t have a pedestrian here so everybody’s wondering what happened.’”

The driver left before police arrived, but they would love to talk to him now. Det. Chittick says, “There was just a strange coincidence that there was no video or no employees or any witnesses during that 15 minute window. There were a lot of businesses in the area at that time, there was a pizza time here there was a movies, and the timing was that a lot of businesses closed and their employees left at midnight or people didn’t come back until 12:30am and for some reason that 15 minute window of time, just disappeared.”

Police are hoping to turn a series of bad decisions or just bad luck into answers and find out who killed Ronald Mckellar. “We’re just asking for anybody that knows anything about who that gentlemen might be or anything about the case, we just haven’t had any leads. We had a lot of tips initially, a lot of cars that people thought. There’s video at certain locations that we pulled but everybody’s vehicle that we thought was a suspected vehicle or involved turned out to be unrelated,” Det. Chittick said.

*Car possibly similar to suspect vehicle*

Ron’s friend described the car he saw driving away after hearing a thud as a light-colored or tan 1980s Ford Thunderbird. If you know anything about this crime or know the man who witnessed it in the gray Cherokee, you are asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

We’ve all seen the flashing lights from police cars on the road.

Hopefully, you didn’t get pulled over.

Police lights have gone through some major makeovers through the years.

Officer Jim Ritter of the Seattle Metropolitan Police Museum has more in tonight’s flashback.

“For nearly a century police cars responding to emergency calls or making traffic stops have used flashing lights to alert drivers on their approach. What many of you may not know is the vast transitions in police lighting over the past 80 years.

“For example from the 1920’s through the 1940’s these were the primary lights used, either a single red beam lens or a red spotlight to warn motorists to pullover upon police approach. By 1950 rotating lights had been invented which would be mounted dead center on the police car for a complete 360 degree coverage to warn motorists of approaching police.

“The late 1960’s brought improvements to police lighting. For example the lights that had originally been mounted dead center on the roof were now mounted on a bar with allowed for additional lighting to be installed. Here’s a great example of a WSP light bar.

“Here’s the example of a double beacon which was also attached to a bar used by SPD. One interesting thing is that in the early 1970s they had been all red, now they were changing to red and blue.

“In the 1990’s strobe technology took over followed by LED lighting years later. Over the past 100 years light manufactures have strived to find better ways to improve visibility in police lighting to reduce accidents and keep our law enforcement officers safe. And that’s the way it was. I’m officer Jim Ritter and this is ‘Flashback.'”

(From left to right) State DOC Officer David Duran working with the West Richland Police Department, Benton County Sheriffs Gang Unit Detective Jared Jech, Benton County Sheriffs Gang Unit Detective Dan Korten, Benton County Sheriffs Gang Unit Detective Abel Saurez, State DOC Officer Ross Esparza working with the Prosser Police Department

It’s well known in law enforcement circles that criminals like to hide in rural Eastern Washington. It’s easy to disappear, no neighbors and the felons can see cops coming down their long driveways. There are great places to run like fruit orchards and open fields along with shops and garages to hide in at a moment’s notice.

It’s well known among criminals that the DOC Officers, Prosser Police, West Richland Police, Benton County Sheriff’s Deputies and US Marshals will find them. “In the most rural part of Western Benton County, there is a 40 mile stretch from Prosser to Kennewick with the small towns of Prosser, Whitstran, Benton City, West Richland, the Badger Mountain Area, Paterson and Plymouth for an geographical area of over 200 miles alone before one enters into the “Tri-Cities”, said DOC Officer Ross Esparza.

Teamwork is the key and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office has formed a specialized task force dedicated to fighting rural crime and gang violence.  They took part last week in the US Marshal’s Operation Violence Reduction 7, a nationwide crackdown. Officer Esparza and his partner Officer David Duran were on a team that arrested 6 violent fugitives. More were caught by the team in the Tri-Cities.

In addition to Operation Violence Reduction 7, the task force also conducted Operation Open House where more than 30 DOC offenders were arrested.

The task force is one of the four core partners in the Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force.

Sometimes these “Shadow Warriors” in Eastern Washington seem forgotten. For sure, they don’t get as much attention or credit as their brothers and sisters in Seattle. I am here to tell you they are no less respected. Sometimes, an officer can be 26 miles away from backup. It takes dedication and bravery to continue to fight the good fight. The bad guys may have more country to hide in among the hills and sagebrush of Benton County, but they should always be looking over their shoulder because this team of crime fighters will never give up. Simply, thank you for your service. You are appreciated.

(From left to right) Benton County Sheriffs Gang Unit Detective Dan Korten, Benton County Sheriffs Gang Unit, Benton County Sheriffs Gang Unit Detective Jared Jech, Benton County Sheriffs Gang Unit Detective Abel Saurez, Benton County Sheriffs Gang Unit Detective Antonio Martinez

National Missing Children’s Day

TUMWATER, Wash. — For the 4th year in a row, family members of Washington state’s missing kids gathered in the parking lot of the Tumwater Walmart for a Children’s Safety Fair to raise awareness about their cases.

There are nearly 100 cases of missing children from Washington listed on the National Center for Missing and Exploited children.

The Missing Children’s Day event is organized by Jennifer Irish with help from volunteers who want to make sure no more kids ever disappear.

The families of Teekah Lewis, Richard “Cody” Haynes, Kelsey Collins, Misty Copsey, Kayla Croft – Payne, Lindsey Baum and Danica Childs set up booths with photos of their loved ones.

Danica disappeared in 2007. The Federal Way girl was 17. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children has an age progression photo showing what Danica would like now at 24.

Bellevue’s Police Chief Steve Mylett attended along with Sky Metawala’s dad. Sky disappeared from Bellevue in 2011 when he was just 2 years old.

“There is no day that it gets easier but I have to be here and focus on him and get his name out so if someone notices something, that can break the whole case,” said Solomon Metalwala.

Sky Metalwala. The photo is an age-progressed picture of what Sky could look like today.

Teekah Lewis was also just 2 years old when she vanished from the New Frontiers Bowling Alley in Tacoma on January 23, 1999.

Her mom, Theresa, is organizing an honor ride to raise money for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It’s being held on June 20th at the Home Depot at 4602 Center Street in Tacoma.

Registration is at 10 a.m. and kick stands are up. Click here for more info on the Teekah Lewis Honor Ride.

Teekah Lewis event

ARLINGTON, Wash. — Arlington Police are asking for your help finding Richard Olson, aka “Park”.

Detectives say he robbed the Rite Aid Pharmacy on Smokey Pt. Blvd on May 7th.

Police say he gave the clerk a note that read, “Robberyy!! Oxycodone, Hydo, Morphie, and Valium. 30 seconds.” Olson then allegedly put his hand inside his sweatshirt and pushed either his hand or an object out indicating he may have a gun. When he left, employees called 911.

Olson first fled to Santa Monica, California. At one point he told detectives who talked to him on the phone that he would surrender. He didn’t.

He contacted detectives on May 14 and said he was in Portland. Olson has made statements according to police that he was going to stay in Portland to kill a man who provided drugs for his brother causing him to overdose.

He is driving a silver 2000 Saab with Washington License Plate ADD6067.

If you spot the car or know where he is staying, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.

All calls are anonymous and there is a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to his arrest.

SEATTLE — A bunch of very special baseball players are hitting the field for a great fundraiser soon!

Right now it’s just practice, but on June 6th the annual ‘Beep Baseball Battle’ is happening at Rainier Beach High School.

The game pits the Seattle Police Department against the Seattle South King Sluggers — a team of blind and visually impaired ballplayers who play all around the state and country.

The team’s coach, Kevin Daniel says, “We happened to meet a couple officers at an eatery and they heard as talking about Beep Baseball and they said, ‘You know what this would be really cool to support,’ and they decided to challenge themselves by playing under blindfold and giving us an opportunity to promote our sport.” Seattle police Ofc. Chris Gregorio adds, “It’s the most difficult thing in the world to hit this ball that’s coming at you. It’s about the size of a small cantaloupe but it beeps and you’re trying to hit this ball. It’s a very difficult thing to do. These guys in my mind don’t have any disabilities, they have a heightened sense of ability for so many other things.”

Many of the South King County Sluggers work for Boeing where they make airplane parts.

The money raised from the game goes to Seattle South King Sluggers so they can travel to play ball with other teams around the state and country.

So be sure to show your support and come out to Rainer Beach High School on June 6^th. First pitch is around 12pm.

CLICK HERE for more information.

WANTED IN KING COUNTY —
Police in Kent need your help finding a man who they say is not afraid to assault women.

Michael Shellabarger has a $100,000 warrant for unlawful imprisonment.

Police say he and a partner grabbed a woman in the parking lot of the “Phoenix Court Apartments” and tried to drag her into a car. The victim said the two were looking for her best friend, but before she could say anything, Shellabarger hit her, pulled her hair, even threatened to shoot her if she didn’t do as they say.

Police say Shellabarger and his partner were looking for a friend because they allegedly stole from them. Authorities say how these two handled the situation is scary. “What you also see is the desperation here,” says Jim Fuda with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound. “It turns out they’re looking for someone for a property crime and yet they assault somebody and it escalates to where they’re assaulting police on a chase, so we need to get this guy off the street.”

A K9 officer and his K9 partner “Ghost” ended up tracking down the suspects who kept trying to get away. “Ghost” caught up with Shellabarger’s accomplice as he tried to climb a fence, who ended up kicking “Ghost” in the muzzle several times — injuring him.

Ghost’s partner arrested the man, but Shellabarger got away.

If you recognize him, or were in the area where this alleged assault happened, call an anonymous tip into:
CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS

You must call the Crime Stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest.

CLICK HERE for information on how to TEXT A TIP to Crime Stoppers.

WANTED IN SEATTLE —
It is a sinking feeling to come outside and find your car window smashed out, but sadly because there are so many low-life crooks cruising our streets, it’s happening more often.

Fortunately, some homeowners now have great surveillance cameras and we’ve got really clear shots of two suspects in action.

Here’s Myrle Carner with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound, to take us through the video in hopes you can put names to their faces.

“You’ll see where they pull by the victim’s vehicle very slowly, then they’re even going to back up and pull parallel looking into the vehicle, then they leave again. Next thing, two guys get out of it, out of the truck, come back, actually look in the vehicle again, get back in the vehicle that they came in, the box truck, and they leave. The next thing you know the vehicle’s coming parallel to the victim’s car. At this point, sliding door opens, one of the suspects gets out, runs around to the passenger door and uses some kind of device, boom, breaks the windows. This is like a 15-second deal at most. Grabs the purse, back into the vehicle and they’re gone.

“If you leave your purse or your computer or other valuable things in plain sight, you know, you’re just kind of asking for it. I’m not blaming the victim because it happens a lot.”

So take another look at both suspects, somebody’s got to know these two driving around in a big utility van.

They have the license plate number, but so far it hasn’t been helpful in identifying the crooks.

If you know their names, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips and collect the cash reward. You will be paid up to $1,000 for any information that helps lead to their arrest.

WANTED BY DOC IN SPOKANE COUNTY —
Joshua Lamb is on the lam — wanted for escape and failing to register as a sex offender in Spokane County.

He was convicted of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl in 2005 and has failed to register three times since.

Lamb is a high-violent offender who’s been busted for a ton of other crimes as well, including assault, burglary, theft, forgery, resisting arrest and drugs.

If you know how to get him back on the map in Spokane County, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips.

WANTED IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY —
Detectives with the North Snohomish County Property Crimes Unit are asking for your help finding Monique Weir.

She is wanted for multiple burglary and trafficking cases as well as a fraud case.

Investigators say she likes to break into people’s garages and sheds and then pawn the items.

Monique may be in Eastern Washington and in possession of a stolen firearm.

If you know where detectives can find her or have any information at all that will help track her down, call an anonymous tip into:
CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS

You must call the Crime Stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest.

CLICK HERE for information on how to TEXT A TIP to Crime Stoppers.

LAKEWOOD — The Lakewood community is rallying around a police Sergeant and her niece after the 11 year old girl collapsed outside her school in January.

Dawn was diagnosed with a rare germinoma tumor in her brain.

Sgt. Karin Shadow or Auntie Karin as Dawn calls her spent the entire month with her in California as her niece underwent several surgeries. Dawn is now legally blind in her right eye and having trouble with her left one as well. Through all the chemo and radiation, Dawn has never complained. “When she was in between chemo and radiation for Easter, I let her shave my head. I said everyone can look at me instead of you,” said Sgt. Shadow.

Dawn, who loves animals but especially pandas, giraffes and unicorns lost her father to cancer, so this little girl has been through a lot. “Her big dream is to go on a trip and she’s never been to Disney World and she wants to go there and I want to make it happen for her,” said Sgt. Shadow.

So, this Saturday, May 23rd from 9am to 3pm, volunteers are holding a community garage sale in the parking lot of the Lowe’s off Lakewood Dr. SW. They are accepting donations for items to be included in the sale and also have a ‘GoFundMe’ campaign for those who can’t attend. The link is http://www.gofundme.com/mvdcow

They are planning a car show at the Lakewood Town Centre on Aug 29th to raise extra funds. “Hopefully I can get Dawn up here if she’s healthy enough to actually be there. That’s my big hope,” said Sgt. Shadow.

For more information on how you can help, you can email Anne Gardner at a.gardner@centurylink.net.

Community Garage Sale for Dawn:

• This Saturday, May 23rd
• 9am-3pm
• Lowe’s off Lakewood Dr. SW.
• http://www.gofundme.com/mvdcow
• INFO: a.gardner@centurylink.net

KENT, Wash. — Police said Wednesday that four ‘persons of interest’ in the April 16 drive-by shooting that killed a 1-year-old girl in the back of her parents’ car are already in custody on unrelated charges.

Detectives said the four people are not suspects, and the investigation is ongoing.

Earlier this month, police said they found two cars thought to have been in the area at the time of the shooting, but they determined, after processing, that the second car was not the one they were seeking.

Investigators are saying the second vehicle (see pic below), still believed to be that of a Pontiac Grand Am with the burned-out passenger side brake light, is still outstanding. Investigators are again asking for the public’s assistance with locating this vehicle.

One-year-old Malijah Grant died after being shot as she rode in a car with her parents. Another car had pulled up alongside them near the intersection of Lake Fenwick Road and Reith Road in Kent and two people inside opened fire. Grant was in the back seat of the car.

Investigators are asking if there are additional witnesses or people with information to call 911, or contact the Kent Police Department tip line at 253-856-5808.

Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound is also offering a cash reward of $1,000 for information leading to the arrest and charges of the suspects involved. Call the hotline anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or submit the information online at www.crimestoppers.com.

WANTED IN SNOHOMISH COUNTY —
Armed robbers have hit several businesses in Lynnwood, with one thief pulling a gun on staff at a coffee shop during the busy afternoon rush hour.

The afternoon rush hour is busy for the Hot Shot Espresso in Lynnwood, which is why it’s hard to believe someone would pull out a gun and rob the place at that time. The whole thing was captured on surveillance video.

Moon Ro, owner of Hot Shot Espresso, said he doubts it the robber’s first time “because everything is ready, he’s watching us.”

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office said it occurred on May 12.

A white man wearing a baseball cap, black hoodie and sunglasses walks into the store. After asking the employee to use the restroom, he pulls out a big handgun, then goes behind the counter and forces the employee to empty the cash register into a white plastic shopping bag.

“Scary — it’s not a small gun.”

Even scarier, police say this is the third business to be robbed recently on 164th Street, including a bank and Manor Market.

In the Manor Market case, surveillance video shows two men — one steals the cash from the register while the other points a gun directly at the store clerk, telling him not to move.

Neighbors in the area say they’re fed up with the crime.

“These guys have guns. I have two babies in my backseat. We usually go out together a couple of us girls, because you never know who’s going to approach your car, just coming here to this mini-mart,” said resident Jenny Rodriguez.

Business owners are grateful their employees are safe — for now.

“Yeah, was a really scary … this time we’re OK, but next time, never know, right?”

Detectives aren’t sure whether all these crimes are connected but they happen fast and in similar fashion. “It really shows pretty aggressive, real quick style robbery,” says Shari Ireton with the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. “These guys come in, threaten the employees that are there, pretty much just go straight to the cash register, take what they can and get out, usually within about less than a minute. In the coffee shop robbery the suspect comes in, asks to use the restroom, employee tells him that he needs to buy a coffee first. He says, ‘Well that’s too bad,’ pulls out a gun, points it at her, orders her to empty the cash drawer. Again, out in about one minute. We really hope to get these guys off the street because of the safety for the citizens who live in that area and for the businesses, we want to give them a sense of assurance. We really want to get after these guys.”

Detectives say the suspect in the coffee shop robbery is white, wearing a white baseball cap, a black hooded sweatshirt, white t-shirt, sunglasses and camouflage shorts.

If you know his name or anything about the other suspects or robberies, call an anonymous tip into:
CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS

You must call the Crime Stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest.

CLICK HERE for information on how to TEXT A TIP to Crime Stoppers.