Accused armed robber wanted in Bremerton for targeting stranger on street surrenders

CAPTURED July 19th, 2014 -- Bremerton police say Lewis Thomas got word he was being featured on WMW and surrendered at the Kitsap County Jail on Saturday night. WANTED IN BREMERTON July 18, 2014 --  Bremerton detectives say Lewis Thomas has only been in Washington state for a month, but he's already been arrested twice for threatening people with a gun and now he's wanted for armed robbery. "He seems to be indiscriminate in picking his victims and it's just a crime of opportunity," Detective Marty Garland of the Bremerton Police says. Lewis Thomas moved to Kitsap County from Louisiana. Now Det. Garland is desperate to find him after he says Thomas held up a shipyard worker. “He said that the first indication he had that anything was wrong was he heard somebody running up behind him and by the time he turned around, the bad guy was already there and had his gun out, a silver handgun that he pointed at his head and ordered him to the ground," Garland says. Garland says Thomas wanted everything the man had. "He got his cell phone and his backpack which oddly enough contained his lunch and his rain gear for work but not much else." The victim ran to a nearby Safeway and called 911. Turns out, Thomas was in the store prior to the robbery and detectives think he planned to rob it. “He had been in there inquiring about how much money they had in the till,” Garland says. “When the Safeway employee told them that they had dropped all the money for the night, he exited the store without making a purchase." Within minutes, he says Thomas saw the victim on his way to the shipyard and robbed him. Police served a search warrant at Thomas' home and recovered some of the stolen items but he wasn't there. "We have to assume that he is still armed and dangerous and in the area," Garland says. Lewis Thomas just turned 20 years old on Friday. He has a $500,000 arrest warrant. He has a muscular build, is 5'4" inches tall and weighs 140 pounds. Detectives say to look for him on public transportation. If you spot him or know where Bremerton police can find Thomas, call an anonymous tip into: CRIME STOPPERS: 1-800-222-TIPS You must call the crime stoppers hotline with your tip to be eligible to receive a cash reward for information leading to a fugitive’s arrest. Click here for information on how to text a tip to crime stoppers