News

Police: Suspect used welfare card before store robbery

A repeat felon who police said robbed a 7-Eleven was easy to identify – because he used his state welfare card to buy food before he robbed the customer next to him.

Police said the robbery happened at the 7-Eleven at 23847 108th Ave. S.E. in Kent. Surveillance video shows Javonte A. Williams making purchases with his EBT card, which is issued by the State Department of Social and Health Services.

"While waiting at the cash register, the suspect places his purchases items into his pockets," Kent police detective Brendan Wales wrote in a probable cause document. "He then reaches over and grabs the cash in (the other customer's) hands, while she was waiting in line at the counter."

The victim was leaning against the counter with $1,520 cash she wanted to use for a money order.

Police received a search warrant to get the name of the welfare card used immediately before the theft, and that showed it belonged to Williams, 22. He remains on supervision with the Department of Corrections.

Investigators contacted his community corrections officer who provided his address. At his apartment, police reported finding Williams' welfare card and the clothes he was believed to have been wearing during the robbery.

Williams has a lengthy felony history that includes six residential burglary convictions, drugs, vehicle theft, criminal trespass and three domestic violence assault convictions.

Williams' arraignment, where he's expected to enter a plea, is scheduled for June 24.