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

Gunman Takes Hostage When Robbery Goes Awry

Associated Press

An attempted bank robbery turned into a hostage situation and bomb scare at a Seafirst bank branch at a shopping center Tuesday.

A female employee who was held at gunpoint was freed and the gunman arrested in the north Seattle suburb. The bank was evacuated while a bomb squad checked out a briefcase left in the bank. No explosive was found in the briefcase.

A witness who was using a cash machine at the time, Associated Press reporter Jim Klahn, said he saw someone report the situation to a police car.

Officers from the nearby Lake Forest Park police station and King County police surrounded the bank with guns drawn and told everyone to get away.

The man walked out with the female employee. Police yelled, “He’s got a gun!” The couple walked about 300 feet across the parking lot to a Payless Drug Store and were then confronted by police. The woman ran free and the man was arrested and taken away in a police car.

No shots were fired.

Lake Forest Park Police Chief John Rogers said the robber took an undisclosed amount of money in the holdup. It was recovered when he put his gun down.

The woman said the man held the gun in her ribs. She said she was shaken but unhurt. Police then stopped her from talking to the reporter.

Police Detective Bill Miller said the man said there was a bomb in the briefcase, then changed his story. Police evacuated the bank until a bomb squad arrived. The bomb squad checked the briefcase and found no explosives.