ARLINGTON — The young woman never passed the bank teller a holdup note. She simply reached across the counter and took the cash.
Laura Potter, 20, is accused of grabbing $200 that the teller had piled up after Potter asked for change, according to court documents filed Friday in Snohomish County Superior Court.
Key Bank employees discovered a robbery note on the floor only after Potter ran out of the Arlington Key Bank, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Bonnie Tweten wrote in court papers.
Potter was charged Friday with first-degree theft for the Jan. 13 heist. The teller told investigators Potter came to her station and asked for change for $200. She wanted two $50 bills and five $20 bills. The bank teller counted out the bills and placed it on the counter. She asked Potter for $200 and turned toward her cash drawer, Tweten wrote.
Potter allegedly reached across the counter, snatched the money and ran, according to the deputy prosecutor.
Employees later found a note on the floor. Investigators believe Potter dropped the note. The note said, “This is a robbery, do what I say,” Tweten wrote in court papers.
The writer also warned that a man was waiting outside if the robber wasn’t outside the bank in 30 seconds.
Potter agreed to turn herself in to police within hours of the robbery.
Her boyfriend told The Herald that Potter had been distraught after her mother committed suicide in December and was battling a severe drug problem.
Reporter Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463 or hefley@heraldnet.com.
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