EVERETT — Video surveillance shows the three masked burglars crawling through a hole in a wall at a Lake Stevens grocery store and crawling out nine minutes later.
The speedy trio also is under investigation for about 130 other burglaries across the region, according to court documents filed late last week.
Byron “Bam” Bowman, his son Tyler Bowman and a third man, James Densmore, were charged Friday with burglary and theft in the Feb. 17 break-in at Jay’s Market on Main Street in Lake Stevens.
Byron Bowman also was charged with burglary in a March 14 break-in at Toby Magee’s, a pub in south Everett. A safe with about $4,500 was taken during that heist.
Byron Bowman, 44, and Densmore, 49, pleaded not guilty to the charges Monday. Tyler Bowman, 22, is expected to be arraigned today in Snohomish County Superior Court. He and Densmore are being held on $100,000. The elder Bowman is being held on $200,000 bail.
A witness told detectives the men told her they often broke into fast-food restaurants and other businesses. They explained that they broke through the drywall at an adjacent businesses or store room to avoid setting off any security alarms, Snohomish County deputy prosecutor Edirin Okoloko wrote in court papers.
Detectives searched the men’s house and seized black sweatshirts and boots coated in what appeared to be drywall dust. They also seized pry bars, a sledgehammer and other tools coated with white dust, according to court papers. Police also found several money bags in the Everett area house.
A witness told investigators Byron Bowman bragged about the burglaries. He showed off stacks of money and introduced the witness to “Burk” a large pry bar that reportedly was used to dislodge safes, Okoloko wrote. Byron Bowman allegedly said he and Densmore came away with about $9,000 from a break-in at an Arlington restaurant, according to court documents.
In 1991 Byron Bowman was named as both a witness and a suspect in the shooting death of Tira Snyder, 19. Detectives speculated that Snyder was killed by a burglar whom she surprised in her Lake Roesiger home.
Bowman’s cousin Lyal Bogart also was named as a suspect in the case. Bogart denied being involved in the shooting. Police have never made an arrest in the 1985 slaying.
Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463, hefley@heraldnet.com.
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