Pair Arrested For Attempted Robbery

Wed., Dec. 3, 1997

From Staff And Wire Reports

Two bank robbers picked the wrong place and the wrong time to hold up a credit union.

The two men entered the Seattle Metropolitan Credit Union about 1 p.m. Monday. The credit union is used by city employees, including clerks, firefighters, parks workers - and police officers.

One of the robbers, dressed in surgical scrubs, pointed a gun at a teller and waved it in front of customers, unaware that off-duty police Officers John Bundy and Lisa Haakenstad were among the patrons, waiting to cash checks.

The officers waited quietly until the men fled before bolting after them.

“They intentionally stepped back and waited because of fear of a hostage situation,” said Sgt. Gary Nelson of the Puget Sound Regional Violent Crimes Task Force. “They did an excellent job.”

After a brief struggle outside, the officers arrested the man in scrubs and recovered a handgun.

The other man escaped, prompting a large but fruitless police hunt with patrol cars and search dogs.

The FBI would not reveal how much money was taken, but said some was recovered.

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