An alert business owner is credited with helping nab a robbery suspect yesterday afternoon in the International District.
On December 11th, just before 11:00 am, a suspect entered a flower shop in the 600 Block of South Jackson and robbed the clerk by implying he had a gun. The suspect, described as a black male in his 40’s, was wearing a black hooded jacket and distinctive red soled tennis shoes. A number of patrol officers responded to the area as soon as the robbery was reported, but the suspect managed to get away.
The case was assigned to robbery detectives. They were able to obtain still photos of the suspect from surrounding business surveillence cameras. A bulletin was created and sent to patrol officers and area businesses.
Yesterday at about 1:30 pm, one of those business owners called 911 after seeing a person matching the suspect description in Hing Hay Park at Maynard and King. Patrol officers responded, but the suspect was no longer in the park. A few minutes later officers located the suspect in the 600 Block of South Jackson, almost in front of the flower shop where the robbery occurred on the 11th. The owner of the flower shop heard the commotion and came outside. She immediately recognized the suspect as the same person who had robbed the shop. The suspect was taken into custody and transported to the Robbery Office where he was interviewed by detectives. After the interview, the 53-year-old suspect was booked into the King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery. This remains an active and on-going robbery investigation.
This was just another great example of the community and police working together.