Lucky night at Snoqualmie Casino ends with armed robbery
September 23, 2009
By Michael Rowe
A Bellevue man’s luck ran out when he tried to leave Snoqualmie Casino on a recent night and ended up getting robbed at gunpoint.With $2,000 in winnings, the 33-year-old man waited for his car at the casino’s valet parking area around 2:30 a.m. on Sept. 8, according to the King County Sheriff’s Office.
Not long after, a white male wearing a jogging suit handed the ticket for his car to a valet and waited beside the victim. According to police, surveillance video showed the man had been following the victim inside the casino
A valet told police that when the victim’s car pulled up, he saw the second man get into the passenger side and point a handgun at the victim. The valet went into the casino to report what he had just seen to security.
The suspect, a 45-year-old Seattle man, told the victim to drive ahead, according to police.
About 75 yards past the valet area he allegedly took the victim’s winnings and exited the car.
In the meantime, another valet had retrieved the car of the suspect, who he was trying to find in the valet waiting area. He was about to return the car, a white Lexus, when he saw the suspect standing next to the victim’s car, he told police.
The victim drove away, and called the casino later to report the robbery. He told police that he was initially too scared and traumatized to report the robbery after it happened.
The suspect got into his own car and left the casino.
The suspect was arrested on Sept. 9, according to Sgt. John Urquhart, spokesman for the King County Sheriff’s Office.
Michael Bayless Rowe: mrowe@snovalleystar.com or 392-6434, ext. 248. Comment at www.SnoValleyStar.com.
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