Suspect ID’d in ice cream shop robbery

A gunpoint robbery at a Spokane ice cream shop in the middle of winter has been solved nearly a year after the crime, prosecutors allege.

Michael W. Robison, 24, was arraigned this week on a first-degree robbery charge for the Jan. 9 hold-up at Basin Robbins, 1230 S. Grand Blvd.

The robbery seeking money from ice cream sales occurred as Spokane was hit with arctic temperatures.

Robison's ex-girlfriend, Breanne M. Snyder, 25, told police it only netted $75, according to court documents. Snyder talked to Spokane police after an unrelated arrest in October and said she'd driven Robison, who she said had a black BB gun, to the Baskin Robbins and picked him a few minutes later. She said he told her he robbed the store and had gotten $75, documents say.

Snyder said she and Robison were addicted to OxyContin and heroin and were stealing to support their habit.
Two off-duty firefighters, Scott Coldiron and Darrin Coldiron, were eating at a nearby restaurant and followed the robber. They told police he got into a white Toyota driven by a woman. Robison owns a white 1998 Toyota Tacoma.

Robison pleaded not guilty to the armed robbery charge on Wednesday. He is not in jail.