CAPTURED: 'The Cookie Monster Bandit' held on $1,000,000 bail after string of armed robberies



CAPTURED -- King County Prosecutors have charged a suspect in 9 robberies over a two month period. 47-year-old Kevin Joe Brunson is being held on $1,000,000 bail charged with Robbery 2nd Degree and could be facing more counts. Detectives say he showed a handgun in three of the robberies and threatened to the shoot the clerk in one of them.

Investigators dubbed him "The Cookie Monster Bandit" as the suspect continued to rob stores in Tukwila, Seattle and King County.Court documents show he entered a Subway store in SeaTac and asked for four cookies before giving the clerk a handwritten note that said, "Give me all the money or you will get shot." Detectives say he then opened up a black bag and ordered the clerk to put all the money in it along with four cookies. Police say he left the note on the counter. DNA from that note identified him according to the charging documents.

The 47-year-old was previously convicted in a string of convenience store and Subway shop robberies in 1998. He was given an exceptional sentence of 22 years in prison.  Because of his previous convictions that include Robbery 1st degree and Assault 2nd degree, Brunson is now facing a third strike and could be sentenced to life in prison if convicted in the most recent robberies.

WANTED IN SEATTLE --
Just a frightening sight for a Starbucks barista in Seattle:

It wasn’t a tip they were handed – but a demand note by a robber saying "Have a gun. Give me cash."

Detectives think the same suspect is behind at least two more Seattle robberies and possibly one in Tukwila and they need your help identifying him before he strikes again.

"We're talking about a guy that in our opinion, could be a former bank robber, because in every robbery, convenience stores, food place, a drug store, he's going in and he's presenting a note. But he's always asking for simple cash and he lays out the denomination, that to me says this guy probably has been out robbing banks,” said Ret. Det. Myrle Carner with Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound. “Take a good look at him. We don't have a great shot of his face, but the clothing is distinctive and every case he's indicated he has a gun."



He's usually wearing a dark cap, black hoodie and glasses with black rims.

Detectives think he's black, clean-shaven, in his 30's to 40's, 5’10” and weighs around 240 pounds.

If you can tell Seattle Police his name, submit the information via the P3 Tips App to Crime Stoppers or call 1-800-222-tips (8477).

You could be in line for up to a $1,000 cash reward if your information leads to his arrest