Knife-wielding suspect goes on Puget Sound area crime spree, leads officers on dangerous chase



A 34-year-old knife-wielding man led law enforcement on a day-long, multi-county crime spree that started when he robbed a bikini barista stand in Mount Vernon and ended with a car chase in Pierce County.

It started around 8 a.m. Friday at the Foxy Lady Latte on the 2600 block of Henson Road in Mount Vernon. Police say the suspect got out of his car, showed the woman working he had a knife and demanded money.

“She didn’t believe it at first, then he pulled his knife out,” said Megan Hanson, one of the employees at Foxy Lady Latte.

From that point, troopers say the suspect's vehicle was seen at another armed robbery. This one  happened about 80 miles away in Bremerton.

The crime spree then continued into Pierce County.

Troopers attempted to use a spike strip to stop the suspect as he drove along SR-16. Trooper Johnna Batiste says the spike strip did not work, and a trooper fired several shots at the suspect in an effort to protect himself and the public.

During the chase, the suspect hit at least two other cars on the road, Batiste said. He then got his car trapped between concrete barriers, fled on foot up the 38th street ramp, and finally was arrested without incident, Batiste said.

Amazingly, during the all-day crime spree, there were no injuries to anyone involved.

The suspect's identity has been released. Q13 News is not naming him because he has not been charged yet.

Troopers say Tacoma Police will investigate the officer-involved shooting.