Washington State Burglary Suspect Nabbed, Allegedly Hid on Casino Roof

Posted on: September 22, 2021, 06:41h. 

Last updated on: September 23, 2021, 02:05h.

An unnamed burglary suspect will soon appear in court after he was discovered on the roof of a Washington State gaming property earlier this month. The King County Sheriff’s Office revealed this week he was hiding amidst stolen computers.

The man was charged with second-degree commercial burglary
King County Sheriff Mitzi G. Johanknecht, pictured above. Her office revealed this week the arrest of a casino burglary suspect earlier this month. (Image: King County Sheriff)

The unidentified Shoreline, Wash. casino had been broken into on Sept. 3. The casino manager discovered the break-in then alerted the sheriff’s office at 3 am while he remained in his car.

“When deputies arrived, they noticed movement on top of the casino’s roof,” the sheriff’s office said in a Facebook post released Tuesday. “Using their spotlight, deputies determined the suspect was hiding up there.”

Deputies used a loudspeaker to order the man to come down. But he remained “agitated,” the sheriff’s office said. He failed to follow their instructions and stayed on the roof.

Suspect Stole Computers, Casino Keys

Police used de-escalation and negotiations skills to eventually convince the suspect to come down from the room. When the man descended, deputies took him into custody.

The suspect had many computers and tablets in his possession that had been taken from the casino, according to the sheriff’s office. The man also had several sets of keys for casino doors. They were stolen from the gaming property during an earlier burglary.

The man was charged with second-degree commercial burglary. He was taken to King County Jail earlier this month. It is unclear if he was ever released from custody.

Bad Robbery Plan

Deputies believe the casino’s surveillance cameras photographed the man stealing the devices. In a warning to potential burgers, the sheriff’s office offered a word of advice online.

Take note, there are few places with more surveillance cameras than a casino,” the sheriff’s office advised in the online post.

The suspect’s court date was not released by the sheriff’s office. It is unknown if he has entered a plea in the case. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison and/or a fine of $20,000. A judge also may want to order restitution for the stolen items.

Shoreline is located about 11 miles north of Seattle. It is the site of several gaming properties.