Redmond's K9 Vader helps locate attempted robbery suspect in Kirkland


December 28, 2011 · Updated 3:20 PM 

Redmond Police Department's K9 unit helped with the arrest of a juvenile male, who allegedly attempted to rob a man using a toy pistol at a downtown Kirkland automatic teller machine late Tuesday night.

The suspect came up to the victim at an ATM outside the QFC at 211 Parkplace Center just before midnight on Tuesday, according to Kirkland Police Sgt. Rob Saloum. The suspect flashed a black hand gun, which turned out to be a painted air soft pistol, and demanded that the victim withdraw money and give it to him.

During the attempted robbery, another person arrived near the ATM, which caught the attention of the suspect. With the suspect distracted, the victim ran into the store and called 911 at 11:43 p.m., Saloum said. The suspect then ran away. Kirkland police set up a search perimeter for the suspect and Redmond's K9 unit, Vader, helped with the search effort.

Vader located the gun and clothing the suspect shed as he ran away. Soon after that, a Kirkland sergeant spotted the suspect, who was arrested for first-degree robbery, Slaoum said.

"The guy tried to slip through, but one of the sergeants saw him and took him into custody," said Saloum, who added that the suspect is from out of state.

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