Suspect arrested for dispensary armed robbery following hotel stand-off in SeaTac
SEATAC, Wash. - Detectives arrested a suspect connected to the armed robberies of as many as ten pot shops in the Seattle area.
Police were investigating a string of armed robberies in May and June, which led them to develop probable cause to identify 18-year-old Caiden Charlton as the suspect.
According to court documents, Charlton was identified by distinct clothes, tattoos and jewelry captured on surveillance video.
Charlton is suspected of robbing Herb's House and Hashtag Cannabis in Seattle on May 30, and Oz Cannabis on June 10. The U.S. Attorney's Office says in these robberies, one or two suspects would hold staff at gunpoint and order them to open their safes or empty the till. The suspects also stole marijuana products and escaped via getaway car.
According to a criminal complaint, Charlton was arrested by Tacoma Police on June 5 for felony possession of a firearm. He was released on bail June 9.
Once he was federally charged, officers tracked Charlton down to a hotel he was staying at near 31st Ave S and International Blvd in SeaTac. Around 3 p.m. Tuesday, police secured the location with King County sheriff’s deputies and FBI agents.
A SWAT Team made contact with the suspect and four other people at the hotel. Authorities say the man refused to leave the hotel, but a hostage negotiation team was able to convince him to come into police custody.
Police searched the man’s hotel room, where they recovered six handguns, two rifles, lots of cash and marijuana.
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The suspect was booked into the Federal Detention Center in SeaTac, and the other suspects in the room—all of whom were juveniles—were booked into King County Child & Family Justice Center for unspecified crimes.
Law enforcement suspects Charlton is connected to additional armed robberies in West Seattle, Edmonds and Bellevue. Authorities say as many as 10 pot shop robberies could be connected to Charlton and a juvenile accomplice who was arrested in Bellevue.
"Mr. Charlton’s prior arrest for similar crimes did little to dissuade his continuing criminal activities." said Richard Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of FBI Seattle. "Fortunately, no one was killed during his violent robbery spree. Taking him off the streets may have saved lives of employees and patrons of the businesses he targeted and highlights the priority given to these types of violent crime. I applaud the efforts of our agents and partners, including the Seattle Police Department, King County Sheriff’s Department, and others on the Safe Streets Task Force, to safely take him into custody."