2 Arrested In Link With Robberies Pair May Be Responsible For String Of Thefts, Police Say

Two Spokane men have been arrested in connection with a string of robberies throughout the county, Spokane police said Monday.

Henry Frank Vavra, 68, and David Carson Cooke, 37, both of 607 S. Thor, were arrested late Saturday. Each is being held on two counts of second-degree robbery, according to jail records.

Vavra is being held without bond and Cooke is on a $25,000 bond at the Spokane County Jail.

The two were arrested after officers responded to a pair of robberies late Saturday.

The Shiloh Inn, 923 E. Third, was robbed at 10 p.m.

An hour later, Pizza Hut, 227 W. Third, was robbed, police said.

An officer investigating seven similar robberies responded immediately to the call from Pizza Hut and parked away from the restaurant, police said.

The officer spotted a motor home near the area and followed it to a gas station at Third and Division, police said. A motor home was reportedly seen at several previous robberies around the county, police said.

The officer interviewed the motor home occupants, searched the vehicle and arrested the men. Police would not say what was found inside.

Between Feb. 12 and Feb. 20, police believe Vavra and Cooke robbed two Excell Food stores at 3704 N. Nevada and 3204 E. 17th, Value Village at 13112 E. Sprague, Yoke’s Pac ‘N Save at 4507 W. Wellesley, Chinese Gardens at 5207 E. Trent and Huckleberry’s at 926 S. Monroe.

In most of the robberies, a man with a description similar to Cooke walked in to a business and demanded money without showing a weapon, police said.

, DataTimes