LAKE STEVENS, Wash. — A man suspected of robbing a bank in Lake Stevens was arrested at his Auburn home on Christmas Eve after his brother told police he recognized the suspect in a Crime Stoppers bulletin.
According to a Snohomish County police report, the suspect’s brother came to the Auburn Police Department and told a detective that the person in a Crime Stoppers flyer who robbed the Whidbey Island Bank in Lake Stevens on April 26 was his brother, Scott Kelly James.
Other members of James’ family all confirmed the man seen in bank surveillance was James.
On Tuesday, Lake Stevens officers met with Auburn police and then went to James’ Auburn condominium.
As officers approached, James, 47, was seen standing in the front doorway. He was placed in handcuffs without incident while his home was searched.
Police said they found a black hooded sweatshirt resembling what was worn during the bank robbery.
After the search, James was taken back to the Auburn Police Department where he was interviewed by a Lake Stevens detective.
According to a police report, James told the detective that before he entered the Whidbey Island Bank, he stood in the doorway and couldn’t believe what he was going to do.
After James described the robbery, the detective asked him why he robbed the bank. James said he robbed the bank because he owed the IRS money and they had been garnishing his paycheck, police documents said.
Because of this, he was left without money.
When the detective asked James if he was afraid he would be arrested, James said he knew he would be arrested at some point.
James was later transported to the Snohomish County Jail.
KIRO
