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Details on the bizarre bank robbery
The first bank robbery ever in Ocean Shores took a bizarre twist: a 911 call from the thief.
Friday at 1:26 p.m., Timberland Bank reported that they were robbed by a woman who said she had a gun. Bank employees said the robber was a red-headed woman, wearing a red jacket, who drove east on Damon Road in a Hyundai.
At 1:32, as Ocean Shores Police were searching the area, a second 911 call came in.
“It was a female stating she just robbed a bank,” said Russ Fitts, deputy chief of the Ocean Shores Police Department.
“She told (dispatch) she didn’t have a gun, she just used a pen, a felt pen in her pocket.”
During the phone call, the woman was crying, saying she was desperate.
“She didn’t say where she was,” Fitts said, “but she was calling from a cell phone, so we were able to triangulate it and get a general area where she was.”
Officer Aaron Glanz and reserve officer Jon Olson were the first to arrive on the scene, followed by Detective Chris Iversen and Officer Eric Cochran.
“Our guys found her still talking on the phone,” Fitts said. “They tried to get her to peacefully surrender and get out of the car.”
The woman was still on the phone with 911 dispatch, and initially did not follow the demands of the police officers.
“Dispatchers told her to hang up and get out of car. She finally did, but she wouldn’t comply with demands, so (the officers) Tasered her.”
The Taser (a.k.a. “stun gun”) did not seem to make the woman compliant, so officers tackled the woman, eventually handcuffing her.
“All the money was on the front seat of car,” Fitts said. “Everything, to the penny.”
Following procedure, he declined to give the amount that was taken.
The 39-year-old Copalis Beach woman was taken to the police station. “She was interviewed by Detective Chris Iversen,” Fitts said. “She admitted to robbing the bank because she needed money and was desperate.”
She was then transported to Grays Harbor County Jail, where she spent the weekend, awaiting arraignment.
Fitts praised bank employees. “They handled it extremely well, giving good witness statements and following procedures.”
He said the police department has done trainings at Timberland, with mock robberies.
Apologies for not making this clear, originally: The woman showed a note saying she had gun, during the actual robbery.
I think the OSPD did a good job in handling the situation. I trust every single one of them to protect my son when he is on patrol in Ocean Shores.
while conceding we do not know all the details… we do know or are given to believe: 1) she robbed the bank, 2) SHE called 911, 3) she pulled over and waited for police to arrive 4) she was not running 5) she was not armed 6) she did not immediately comply with commands 7) she appears to have been outmanned by at least 4 to 1
given the above… i am not taking her side, she violated federal law. regardless of her reasoning for doing so, there are consequences. she answer for her actions. that said….
perhaps she was tazed because she wasn’t complying quickly enough? perhaps the officers felt threatened? perhaps they felt she was going to attempt to run? perhaps the officers were “just a little pumped” by the apprehension of Ocean Shores’ first bank robber?
perhaps others are right to suggest we don’t know everything, but perhaps… just perhaps…. a little patience on the part of the officers might have been in order? it’s not like she was going to get away.
much better, it seems to me, to resolve a situation in a manner which ensures 100% community support of the officers’ actions than to resolve it in such a way as to cast shadows on the department and the city? now, instead of “great job, guys!” people are going to question facts/events peripheral to the primary issue… that of the successful apprehension of an individual who made a conscious decision to violate the law.
$.02
Until we the public know the exact circumstances that occured when the “bank robber” was arrested we cannot pass judgement on the OSPD. Too many times a police officer has answered a domestic call or made a traffic stop only to be killed or wounded.When I know all the facts I will make judgement
Until you now the circumstances surrounding the event, making assumptions that the Police Department acted non-classy is not your place. A subject can be “tasered” for several reasons, including non-compliance to commands, as the article states. A little research before key strokes would be inclined VicinSea. Do your homework next time before making posts that are un-educated.
This woman didn’t have a weapon, called 911 on her self and still got Tasered? Very Classy OSPD. Very Classy indeed.