MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Troy Malchow was working alone late Valentine’s Day morning, serving coffee drinks at his Perfetto Espresso drive-up kiosk, 5601 244th St. SW, when he had the surprise of his life.
Instead of a valentine, however, Malchow was greeted by an armed robber who demanded he turn over his cash drawer.
“He definitely acted like he knew what he was doing,” said Malchow, 36. “If you were watching from 30 feet away, you probably wouldn’t even have know I was robbed.”
The robbery was especially shocking, Malchow said, because it was the first one since he opened for business 10 years ago.
Malchow told police the man walked up to the kiosk, pulled a gun from his waistband and said “stay calm and give me the money.” He described the suspect as an unshaven white man wearing several layers of dark clothing and a dark stocking cap.
“He was definitely an unhealthy looking guy,” Malchow said.
Just three weeks earlier, a man threw a big cement block through one of the shop’s windows on a Saturday night.
“Witnesses said he’d been acting kind of crazy and yelling at himself,” Malchow said.
Police don’t know whether the same person is responsible for both coffee shop incidents. But they’re certain two different men were responsible for the Perfetto Espresso robbery and one several hours later at a Subway restaurant, 21919 66th Ave. W.
Shoreline Police arrested a 40-year-old suspect on Sunday, Feb. 18 at the Studio 6 Motel, 6017 244th St. SW in Mountlake Terrace. The man, who was booked into King County Jail, is suspected of an attempted robbery at Romio’s Pizza in Shoreline on Feb. 17 and the robbery of a Shoreline Chevron Station on Valentine’s Day. Lynnwood police also think he may have robbed Kaddy Shack Golf Center driving range, 4003 204th St. SW., on Jan. 29., according to Spokeswoman Shannon Sessions.
“We believe he may have been involved in the Perfetto Espresso robbery,” said Mountlake Terrace Det. Sgt. Doug Hansen. Police have shown photographs to witnesses and victims in an attempt to obtain corroborating evidence prior to forwarding the information to prosecuting attorneys, Hansen said.
In the Subway robbery, a man entered the restaurant while customers were there, displayed a hand gun and walked out with the cash register drawer and $206.63. On his way out, he wiped the glass window with his shirt to erase fingerprints.
Hansen said police have identified a suspect in the Subway robbery but have not arrested him.
“We believe there may have been a connection between the two men,” Hansen said.
The latest rash of robberies in Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace points to a recurring problem police say is widespread: drug-related felonies. Mountlake Terrace police point to 2006 crime statistics to bolster their case.
Those statistics show they responded to 13 more Part One violent crimes in 2006 than in 2005. Most of that jump can be attributed to increases in robbery and aggravated assault — both of which are heavily linked to the use and sale of methamphetamines, highly addictive stimulants. Part one crimes are felonies that include robbery, aggravated assault, homicide, automobile theft, arson, rape, burglary and larceny.
“No question, meth was involved,” in the latest city robbery spree, Mountlake Terrace Police Chief Scott Smith said, adding that “there’s reason to suspect” the 40-year-old suspect and other men were staying together at a Highway 99 motel in Edmonds.
Mountlake Terrace Assistant Police Chief Pete Caw said it’s not unusual for patrol officers to find packages of the drug after traffic stops.
For years, police focused meth enforcement on controlling where it was manufactured, often in trailers located in rural areas.
That’s changed over the last decade, however. Today, Caw said, most meth supplies arrive in the United States from Mexico.
“It’s at least as common as rock cocaine (crack) at this point,” he said.
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