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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sirens & Gavels

PC plate gives probable cause for arrest

Christopher J. Cook is taken into custody near 29th Avenue and Fiske Street by police after a short car chase Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. Cook is a suspect in the robbery of an AmericanWest bank branch Thursday in Spokane Valley. (Christopher Anderson / chrisa@spokesman.com)
Christopher J. Cook is taken into custody near 29th Avenue and Fiske Street by police after a short car chase Friday, Nov. 13, 2009. Cook is a suspect in the robbery of an AmericanWest bank branch Thursday in Spokane Valley. (Christopher Anderson / chrisa@spokesman.com)

That didn't take long.

Assisted by a personalized license plate, Spokane County sheriff's detectives this morning arrested a man suspected of robbing a Spokane Valley bank on Thursday.

Christopher J. Cook, 42, was booked into jail on one count of first-degree robbery for an incident Thursday at 2:10 p.m. at the American West Bank, 15606 E. Sprague Ave.

The robber fled in a Suzuki with the license plate "PC."

"As in, 'probable cause,'" said Sgt. Dave Reagan.

Detectives spotted the vehicle about 10:30 a.m. today in the vicinity of 29th Avenue and Ray Street in Spokane and arrested Cook.

Witnesses say Cook didn't display a gun, nor did he indicate he had one, but unarmed bank robberies can still be charged as first-degree robbery.



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