Update, Thursday, May 31, 2 pm.: Bothell Police and members of the North Sound Metro SWAT Team served search warrants at two residences on Finn Hill in Kirkland early Thursday and arrested two suspects in the May 6 armed robbery of the Yakima Fruit Market in Bothell.
A third suspect was arrested by Bothell detectives later Thursday in Lynnwood. The three suspects are 21, 22 and 24 years old. Their identities have not been released. All three were booked into the King County Jail on suspicion of first-degree robbery and unlawful imprisonment.
Two of the suspects were arrested on Finn Hill at about 6 a.m. Thursday, said Bothell Police Captain Denise Langford. Residents of Finn Hill reported a heavy police presence in the area around early Thursday.
Two men robbed the popular fruit market on Bothell Way (SR 522) the night of Sunday, May 6, forcing the manager into the office and ordering him to open the safe, according to a press release issued by Bothell Police Thursday.
Here is the release in full.
Bothell, Wash. – On Thursday, May 31, 2012 at approximately 6:00 a.m., members of the North Sound Metro SWAT Team served two simultaneous search warrants on separate residences located within the City of Kirkland. Two men were subsequently arrested without incident for their suspected involvement in a Bothell armed robbery and unlawful imprisonment incident that occurred in early May. A third man was arrested by Bothell Police detectives later in the day in the City of Lynnwood.
On Sunday, May 6, 2012, at approximately 8:41 p.m., an armed robbery occurred at the Yakima Fruit Market located at 17321 SR 522 in Bothell. Two men entered the business after closing and forced the night manager into the business office at gunpoint. The men demanded the manager open the safe. The market’s security camera recorded the incident, and in the video, one of the suspects could be seen brandishing a handgun. The market’s night manager, a 26-year-old Bothell man, was the only employee in the business. He complied with their demands by giving them an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspects secured the manager’s hands behind his back and forced him to the floor before fleeing. The suspects left on foot.
Bothell Police received information about a possible suspect vehicle seen in the area during the incident and were able to recover a cellular phone determined to be associated with one of the suspects. Further investigation led to the identification of three men, ages 21, 22, and 24, believed to have been involved with the robbery.
After serving the search warrant, Bothell Police detectives located a floor plan of the Yakima Fruit Market inside one of the suspect’s residence. All three men were subsequently booked into King County Jail for Investigation of Robbery 1 and Unlawful Imprisonment.
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Original story:
The Bothell Police Department served search warrants on Finn Hill early Thursday morning, apparently at a residence, in a case related to a recent robbery, according to Kirkland police.
Reader Tim Gilberry told Kirkland Patch that he saw during a walk at Thursday morning “many police cars, K-9 units, an aid car, and a very large bus from the South Snohomish County SWAT.”
Kirkland Police Department spokesman Lt. Mike Murray confirmed the Bothell Police action, and said Kirkland police were there as support.
“The Bothell Police Department is looking for a couple guys related to a recent robbery,” he said. “They were serving some search warrants.”
Kirkland Patch has a call in to Bothell police and will update this story as soon as possible.
Athough there is no indication at this time the Finn Hill action is related, Bothell police did ask for the public’s assistance in identifying two suspects in an armed robbery on May 6 at the Yakima Fruit Market on Bothell Way (SR 522). For a Bothell Police Department press release on that case, click here.
