Seattle police reported the capture last night of a bank robber who allegedly committed a U-District robbery at the Washington Federal Savings, after he left his room at the normally drama-free Marco Polo motel on the 4100 block of Aurora.
The suspect robbed the bank on April 22 at 2:15 p.m., demanding cash and traveler’s checks from the teller. Police described him as a white male, 40’s, unshaven with gray hair. Yesterday, a Robbery Detective received a tip: the suspect was at a north Seattle location and driving a white Mercedes. The Puget Sound Violent Crimes Task Force and SPD Robbery Detectives responded to the location and was informed the suspect had already left.
But officers set up containment and located the alleged bandit’s vehicle parked and unoccupied at a motel in the 4100 block of Aurora Av N. – the Marco Polo. Luckily, around 9 p.m., the suspect suddenly exited the room and attempted to leave in his car. Police took him into custody without further incident and transported him to the Robbery Office for processing.
UPDATE: The suspect was booked into King County Jail on investigation of robbery as Steven T. Masters, born in 1952. He is also listed as a fugitive from Oregon, along with a charge of theft from Kennewick. Police said the name given upon his arrest at the Marco Polo was Steven Matt, but could not explain why he was booked into the county jail under a different name.