Police used Flock Safety cameras to locate and arrest a juvenile suspect Sunday following the alleged robbery of a Centralia convenience store the day before.
According to the Centralia Police Department, the suspect was booked into the Lewis County Juvenile Detention Center for alleged first-degree robbery and third-degree theft.
The department noted the juvenile was booked within 24 hours of the alleged crime.
Officers responded to the reported armed robbery at a service station in the 1000 block of Ellsbury Street at about 4:35 p.m. March 28.
Though police did not identify the business, a Shell station operates in that block.
Police said a masked suspect entered the store, pointed a firearm at the cashier and demanded nicotine products and cash. The suspect then fled on foot with about $650 worth of merchandise.
“Officers from the Centralia Police Department, Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, Chehalis Police Department, and Washington State Patrol quickly established a perimeter in the area,” the Centralia Police Department stated in a news release.
According to the release, Officer Daniel Cox and K9 Hector initiated a successful tracking of the suspect’s path that was stopped after Lewis County deputies viewed security footage showing the suspect fleeing in a vehicle several blocks from the store.
Police identified the suspect’s vehicle using Flock cameras and located the vehicle at an address in Rochester on Sunday, the department said.
“With assistance from the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office, Centralia officers and detectives contacted the suspect, a juvenile, and executed a search warrant on both the residence and the involved vehicle,” the release stated.
Police reportedly recovered all stolen property, along with relevant evidence, including the alleged firearm, mask and clothing used in the robbery.
“The Centralia Police Department remains committed to the mission of protecting the quality of life in our community. We extend our sincere appreciation to all partnering agencies for their assistance and collaboration throughout this investigation,” the release stated.
