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Armed robbery at espresso stand in Auburn, police pursuit ends in West Seattle

AUBURN, Wash. — Auburn Police arrested a man suspected in an early morning crime spree that started with him allegedly stealing a car in West Seattle, robbing a bikini barista stand in Auburn, and then leading authorities on a chase.

The chase came to a crashing end at 9050 Delridge Way Southwest in West Seattle when Auburn police used the PIT maneuver to stop the driver of a blue Buick. The driver is suspected of robbing the Beankini Espresso Stand in Auburn early Sunday morning at gunpoint.

KIRO 7 spoke to the barista, who didn’t want to be identified. She said she'd just opened the stand when a man she'd never seen before pulled up.

“As soon as I gave him his drink he put his gun up and he said that I had five seconds and he was going to count down or he was going to kill me, to give him all the money we have in the stand,” the barista recounted.

She followed his orders.

Then he took off.

But a customer who had pulled up behind him and witnessed what happened decided to follow him.

While on State Route 167, the witness called police and gave them a location.

“All of our customers here, they’re pretty much regulars, great people,” she said. “They always look out for you. Very friendly people. So I would expect that from anyone that would pull up behind someone and see that happen.”

Both Renton and Auburn Police then chased the suspect into West Seattle, where the suspect’s car also came crashing into David Longhurst’s white truck.

“I was just in time to see them do the PIT maneuver on the car and right into my truck,” Longhurst said. “I guess I'm lucky my truck was there. It didn’t go into the building.”

Police took the driver into custody.

They also told KIRO 7 the Buick was stolen earlier in the morning from West Seattle.

As for the barista, she's still working and glad the suspect was caught.

“I feel okay. A little bit shaken the more it sets in, but I think it's good to keep doing my job and not be fearful every day,” she said.

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