KINGSTON – Authorities are continuing to look for a suspect who allegedly used a machete to rob the Green Tiki Cannabis Company in Kingston shortly before noon Monday.
Scanner traffic indicated that the suspect’s description matched that of a man who robbed a gas station on Bainbridge Island on July 28. In that instance, the man allegedly used a crow bar and demanded money. Similar to the Bainbridge robbery, the man fled Green Tiki on foot.
According to the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office, the suspect entered the Green Tiki Cannabis Company store, located at George’s Corner, 8202 NE State Highway 104, in Kingston, around 11:40 a.m., and inquired about cannabis packages on a shelf behind the counter. The store clerk retrieved some packages, turned around and set them on the counter. The suspect then displayed a large, black-colored machete, grabbed the packages of pot and walked out the door. He was last seen running southbound through the George’s Corner parking lot.
Shortly after law enforcement received the call, officers and deputies from multiple agencies began setting up checkpoints at intersections near the weed shop, which is located on Hwy 104.
The suspect was described as a white male in his early 20s, approximately 5 feet, 6 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall with an athletic build. He was wearing a light-colored gray knit (beanie) cap, large black-colored sunglasses and a long-sleeve dark-colored crew neck shirt over a white T-shirt, blue jeans and black athletic shoes with white soles.
From video surveillance systems it appears that the suspect arrived several minutes before the robbery and positioned his vehicle across the parking lot near a Domino’s Pizza store. He was last seen driving northbound on Hansville Road NE.
Kitsap County Sheriff’s Deputy Scott Wilson said at around 12:11 p.m. that authorities began searching for the suspect with a K-9 unit, but tracking efforts were terminated around 12:31 p.m. after it appeared that the suspect was no longer in the area.
“It was indicative to us that the dog went to one location and could not go any further, which indicated in all likelihood the suspect got into a vehicle,” Wilson said.
Wilson said if residents notice any suspicious individuals who appear to match the description of the suspect that they call 911 and “Be a good witness.”
“Call 911, do not intercede or try to apprehend this individual,” Wilson said adding that folks should take note of “location, what he’s wearing, description of the person, (and) vehicle he may or may not be associated with.”
Anyone with information should call 360-337-4825 or 360-337-7117.
