MOUNTLAKE TERRACE —Little did they know someone was watching from afar and that police were on their way.
The quick heads-up would lead to a manhunt and two arrests.
The men holding up employees at the Rainier Cannabis pot shop in a Mountlake Terrace office park Tuesday night were heavily armed, according to police reports. One carried an AR-15 rifle; the other, a handgun. A 911 call was reported around 11:45 p.m.
“They confronted the employees,” said Mountlake Terrace Assistant Police Chief Pete Caw. “It was a pretty scary situation for them.”
The person monitoring the security cameras from offsite reported that employees were on the floor inside the business. The robbers were wearing hoodies, dark clothing and masks, the caller reported.
As the assailants peeked out the front door, police were arriving in the parking lot.
They ran out a backdoor before police were able to contain the building.
One man dropped his rifle, ran behind a building and jumped a fence.
Officers from Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mukilteo, Everett, Shoreline and Seattle as well as the Washington State Patrol helped set up containment.
Police dogs were used to track the suspects.
One was found hiding in a boat in the 22300 block of 64th Avenue W. The Lynnwood man, 21, had warrants out for his arrest, including a first-degree burglary charge in King County. Bail in that case is $400,000.
The other suspect was found near a home. He reportedly was on supervision for a robbery conviction.
Both men were transported to the Snohomish County Jail, where they were booked for investigation of first-degree robbery. They were accused of stealing money and marijuana from the store.
Eric Stevick: 425-339-3446; stevick@heraldnet.com.
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