Pursuit leads to robbery suspect’s arrest

Published 12:01 am Saturday, August 27, 2011

LYNNWOOD — The robber ran past the wrong mechanic.

Moments after sticking up U.S. Bank in Lynnwood on June 25, he made a run for the getaway car waiting a few blocks over.

A mechanic at a nearby auto shop saw the man running down the street, apparently throwing away something that app

eared to be on fire.

At the time, he thought it might be fireworks.

The mechanic got in his car and followed the robber until the man climbed into a Subaru, according to a police affidavit filed in Everett District Court. The mechanic stopped once he had the license plate number.

The smoking “fireworks” turned out to be a dye pack exploding in the hot money. A few days later, a man believed to be the robber was booked into jail.

On Thursday, his getaway driver met a similar fate.

Police allege that a Lynnwood man, 42, was at the wheel of the Subaru. While he waited, another Lynnwood man, 18, entered U.S. Bank at 19420 Highway 99.

The younger man allegedly demanded money and leveled a handgun at the tellers. He grabbed several handfuls of dough and took off running north.

That’s where he caught the eye of the mechanic who thought something was wrong and followed him.

When the mechanic got back to work, he noticed police officers at the bank nearby. He shared what he saw.

Two other witnesses who were in the area gave detectives a similar version of the day’s events. Police later turned up pieces of a broken toy guy they believe was used in the robbery.

Lynnwood detectives went searching for the Subaru. An Edmonds police sergeant found it at a hotel along Highway 99. Police staked out the hotel room until they saw both Lynnwood men check out and drive off. They were pulled over and arrested.

Both men declined to speak with investigators, according to the affidavit. The younger man was booked, but the older man was not. The younger man’s trial is set for October.

Detectives on Thursday talked to witnesses who said they knew the Lynnwood men and saw them together in a Subaru the afternoon of the robbery, about two miles from the bank.

Later that day, the older man was arrested. He was being held Friday at Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree robbery. Bail was set at $150,000.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.