West Seattle Crime Watch update: Morgan Junction bank-robbery suspect arrested

(UPDATED 6:16 PM with word of arrest)

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11:45 AM: Thanks for the tips about a major police presence in Morgan Junction – we’ve confirmed that the Washington Federal branch at California/Fauntleroy has been robbed. No other details right now – we’re waiting to talk with police to at least get a description. The bank is closed for now as police investigate, with a note on the door attributing the closure to an “emergency.” This is right across the street from West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor), which was robbed late last night, but we don’t know yet if there’s any connection. More to come.

12:19 PM: We’ve just talked to a sergeant on scene who told us they don’t know yet how much money the robber got away with, but they do have a description – heavyset black man, 6 feet tall, in his 40s. That is similar to the description of the man who robbed Thriftway last night, but police say it’s too soon to say whether this is the same person or not. No word if a photo will be circulated publicly as it was with last week’s Bank of America holdup.

6:15 PM: We’ve just confirmed with SW Precinct commander Capt. Pierre Davis that a suspect has been arrested – he says detectives “did a stellar job” in identifying the suspect. Expecting more information soon.

15 Replies to "West Seattle Crime Watch update: Morgan Junction bank-robbery suspect arrested"

  • BJ August 2, 2016 (11:51 am)

    What is going on with that area lately?!? Just last night the Thriftway had an attempted robbery. I know this bank has been hit before. Multiple disturbances at that apartment building right next door. Good grief.

    • WSB August 2, 2016 (11:55 am)

      Yes, I just added the Thriftway mention, we covered that last night. Still waiting for info on description in this, so absolutely no idea if this one resembles that incident or the one last week in The Junction or anything else, will add it as soon as we get it. – TR

  • CanDo August 2, 2016 (12:18 pm)

    Perhaps a more regular check of who might be hanging out in the heavily weeded lot owned by the City, behind the abandoned Short Stop building on California and Eddy.  We see people walking back into that area from time to time and wonder what might be going on back there.  The City has  fenced the abandoned building but not the weeded lot. 

  • Joe Dirt August 2, 2016 (1:42 pm)

    Choppers and sirens north of me. Maybe near Admiral and Ca?

  • Joe Dirt August 2, 2016 (1:44 pm)

    Chopper gone.

    • WSB August 2, 2016 (1:50 pm)

      The helicopter was a TV chopper photographing the Parade of Ships off Alki. Mentioned in our coverage.

  • wetone August 2, 2016 (5:36 pm)

    Expect these occurrences to happen much more along with many other bad things, now word is out that Seattle gov lets a bank robber out within 24hrs and paying no bail. Seattle has set a new standard and will have issues holding many criminal’s accountable for their law breaking activity’s.  Seattle is turning into a cesspool.

  • Chris August 2, 2016 (5:36 pm)

    I just passed the Morgan Junction  and the police were arresting a man fitting the description in the parking lot of the circular building 

    • WSB August 2, 2016 (5:45 pm)

      We heard something was going on down there but police were gone by the time we got down the hill. Hoping to run into them while traveling around Night Out tonight if we don’t get the information some other way sooner. – TR

      • WSB August 2, 2016 (6:16 pm)

        … and we’ve confirmed a suspect in this has been arrested. As to whether he’s linked to anything else – working on that.

  • Quiz August 2, 2016 (7:44 pm)

    Way to go SPD!!! 

  • Alki Resident August 2, 2016 (9:57 pm)

    Thanks Chris

    I was very much feeling this guy may be related to the circular building. These guys dont always travel too far to their crimes.

  • Carole August 3, 2016 (7:02 am)

    Dud the junction bank robber return to court as he was instructed to do?

    • WSB August 3, 2016 (7:06 am)

      I am still trying to verify this but I was told very early this morning that he died over the weekend – which would certainly explain why a case was not referred to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. – TR

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