Charges filed against suspected West Seattle/White Center serial robber

(2/13/13 WSB photo by Katie Meyer; scene of robbery that led to Willis’s arrest)
46-year-old Paul Eugene Willis – the man arrested in connection with six recent armed robberies in West Seattle, White Center, and vicinity – is now charged with three counts of first-degree robbery. Partner site White Center Now had first word of the robbery spree in January; then we learned the same suspect was also believed to be responsible for both recent holdups of the Smoke and Beverage Shop at 35th and Roxbury, the second of which led to his arrest, reported here last Friday (when we also reported that he served prison time for other holdups on Roxbury – including the same 76 station he allegedly recently robbed). The charging documents exhaustively detail the detective work that led to Willis’s arrest – from studying similarities in the robberies’ M.O., to discovering a certain vehicle on surveillance footage. We’ll summarize as soon as we can, but wanted to get word out about the charges. Willis remains in jail, with bail set at half a million dollars, and arraignment scheduled in early March. (Mug shot is from state Department of Corrections, taken in 2006; they tell us he’s been out since 2008 after serving time for those earlier robberies.)

DTK February 20, 2013 (5:59 pm)

The cops didn’t ask for the loot back, made him apologize and let him walk? Amazing!

Citizen Sane February 20, 2013 (6:01 pm)

Have an enjoyable time in the pen, Mr. Thug.

anti-obstruction February 20, 2013 (7:35 pm)

Thank you, SPD…excellent work, which y’all provide in the great majority of cases, whatever the circumstances.

WSB February 20, 2013 (7:54 pm)

King County Sheriff’s Office – since they knew first it was a serial robbery case – cracked it. I should add another file photo from another one of the robbery scenes that they handled :). Also, I obtained Willis’s prison mugshot (the only agency from which you can get a mugshot around here) late this afternoon and will be adding that.

anti-obstruction February 20, 2013 (8:23 pm)

Thanks, WSB, definitely want the accolades to go to those deserving!
In general, in spite of some high-profile examples of law enforcement failures, I just wanted to convey that, for the most part, I believe they all do a fine job under very trying conditions. :)

Alki Resident February 20, 2013 (8:27 pm)

Well, he’s wearing the right color.

WTF February 20, 2013 (10:13 pm)

Ah what an upstanding, contributing POS!

Ajax February 20, 2013 (11:58 pm)

Still a serial armed robber at 46? I guess a career change isn’t forthcoming at this stage of the game. Perhaps a good candidate for long-term incarceration?

WSB February 21, 2013 (12:02 am)

I had expected to hear that he had just gotten out before this began. Wondering (but probably will be unable to find out) what he did in the meantime. The charging documents which I will embark on summarizing say his mother lives in Arbor Heights – blocks from the 76 mini-mart he allegedly robbed twice, then and now.

Gary February 21, 2013 (10:50 pm)

This dude sure don’t like to work for a living. What do three counts of robber get you around here? After social justice is figured in he will be free in a year or two.

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