Cameras at nearby businesses may have caught images of coffee stand robber

PORT ANGELES — Detectives on Wednesday were examining surveillance videos from dozens of business and city cameras in areas around Just Rewards Espresso, which was robbed Tuesday, for images of the robber, who remained at large.

The coffee stand at 1001-A E. First St., Port Angeles, was robbed at about 6:35 p.m. Tuesday.

A man who was in his 40s to 50s displayed a black handgun to a barista and demanded money, Port Angeles Police Deputy Chief Brian Smith said.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

He escaped with an undisclosed amount of cash. Despite combing the area around the coffee stand that night, police found no sign of the robber.

Smith said it would take detectives awhile to examine the video footage.

If they spot him, they may find clues as to which direction he fled, as well as an imagethat might be used to help identify him.

“There are many, many cameras in that area, some that people might not even know are there,” Smith said. “There are more cameras than are obvious, more than you would think.

“We are going to take our time and really look through them carefully.”

One complication, Smith said, is that business people who have surveillance cameras sometimes don’t know exactly which direction, or how much space, their cameras cover.

So, as detectives review the footage, they are also going through cameras that might not initially appear to have evidence but that could have caught images of the robber.

Robber’s description

The robber was described by the barista as taller than 6 feet, with salt-and-pepper hair, a thin build and wearing a fake goatee.

He was wearing a blue baseball cap, glasses and a tan jacket, police said.

Port Angeles officers, with help from the U.S. Border Patrol and Clallam County Sheriff’s Office, created a perimeter of 1-mile radius around the drive-through espresso stand after the robbery Tuesday night.

They searched within that area for the robber.

The Port Angeles Police Department also had police dogs and their handlers searching for the man for several hours after the robbery.

The police activated a reverse 9-1-1 system to area businesses in which a recorded message was phoned into the businesses alerting them to the situation.

The robber probably “cased the joint,” or spent some time during the day watching it and looking around the area, Smith said.

“We would really like businesses to remember this,” he said.

“Anytime they think that there is someone who is not making use of the business and appears to be surveilling them, acting in a manner as if they are preparing themselves for criminal act or acting otherwise suspiciously, they should immediately call police.

“It does look like this man did in this case.

“It is a very common thing in armed robberies, as well.”

Anyone with more information on this case, or who wants to report suspicious behavior, should phone 360-452-4545, Smith said.

__________

Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladaily news.com.

More in News

Kathy Downer, a Sequim City Council member, resigned on Jan. 13 to spend more time with family. She was elected to office in 2021 and reelected to a different position in 2023. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Interviews are set for Sequim opening

Special meeting Feb. 3 for council candidates

Kindergartener Zoey Griffin eats lunch with classmates in Amy Skogsberg’s class. For most of Greywolf Elementary’s history, students have eaten in their classrooms as the school was built without a dedicated cafeteria. A bond proposal includes building a cafeteria at the school, improving its parking lot and bus loop, and updating its air handler and heating units. (Matthew Nash/Olympic Peninsula News Group)
Sequim schools bond would include cafeteria at Greywolf Elementary

Transportation center also needs attention, staff say

Layla Forêt is the new market director for the Sequim Farmers and Artisans Market. She formerly served as marketing manager. (Sequim Farmers and Artisans Market)
Sequim Farmers and Artisans Market hires director

Forêt has worked in marketing for past decade

Weekly flight operations scheduled

There will be field carrier landing practice operations for aircraft… Continue reading

Commander R.J. Jameson, center, exits the change of command ceremony following his assumption of the role on Friday at the American Legion Hall in Port Townsend. (Elijah Sussman/Peninsula Daily News)
Naval Magazine Indian Island sees change in command

Cmdr. R.J. Jameson steps into role after duties across world

Allen Chen.
Physician officer goes back to roots

OMC’s new hire aims to build services

f
Readers give $111K in donations to Home Fund

Donations can be made for community grants this spring

A ship passes by Mount Baker in the Strait of Juan de Fuca as seen from the Port Angeles City Pier on Wednesday morning. The weather forecast continues to be chilly this week as overnight temperatures are expected to hover around freezing. Daytime highs are expected to be in the mid-40s through the weekend. (Dave Logan/for Peninsula Daily News)
Off in the distance …

A ship passes by Mount Baker in the Strait of Juan de… Continue reading

Creative District to transfer to PT

Creating year-round arts economy program’s goal

Officers elected to Port of PT’s Industrial Development Corporation

Surveyor to determine value of 1890 wooden tugboat

Clallam County to install anti-human trafficking signs

Prosecuting attorney to challenge other jurisdictions to follow suit

Portion of Old Olympic Highway to be resurfaced

Project will cost about $951,000