[1]Surveillance images from the Handi Store showed boots that looked familiar to business’s owner. / Courtesy image
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – A 45-year-old local man has been arrested and charged in last week’s holdup of the Handi store in Winlock.
When Tamrick A. Torres was brought before a judge this afternoon for a bail hearing, temporary defense attorney Joely O’Rourke told the judge her client has lived for eight years at the same address in Winlock.
Torres has his own business, a cat rescue, O’Rourke said. But it doesn’t bring in any income, she said indicating he would qualify for a court appointed lawyer.
“Robbery second is a violent offense,” Chief Deputy Criminal Prosecutor Brad Meagher said. “We’re asking the court to impose a $25,000 bond.”
Lewis County Superior Court Judge James Lawler agreed.
Police responded to the report of robbery at about 10:30 p.m. last Tuesday, and learned from the clerk who was working alone the individual was wearing a black and white mask, like of a skull, and displayed a handgun. The clerk said he demanded she give him all her money and reached toward his waistband where she saw what looked like the black handle of a firearm, Meager wrote in charging documents.
The owner reported $1,589 in cash was missing, according to Maeagher.
The court documents show it was his footwear and yellow sport utility vehicle that led the Toledo Police Department to Torres.
After viewing surveillance footage, the store’s owner told an officer he thought the suspect was a person he’s seen driving a yellow sport utility vehicle and wears boots like those on the video, according to the court documents. Amarjit Rai said the way the suspect walked looked familiar too.
Toledo Police Officer Andrew Scrivner observed video that showed the yellow vehicle pass the convenience store on Kerron Avenue shortly before and after the robbery, and knew of just one person in town who drove such a vehicle, Meagher wrote.
On Friday when police conducted a search of Torres’s residence, they found boots that looked similar and also a dark jacket with the same type of white stitching worn by the person in the video, according to Meagher.
Torres reportedly told police he and the clerk had conspired to rob the store because she was unhappy with her wages there, according to Meagher.
When interviewed by police, the clerk said she had nothing to with planning the robbery, but the investigation is ongoing, according to court documents.
Torres was charged today with both second-degree robbery and second-degree burglary, which each carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Centralia attorney Shane O’Rourke was appointed to represent him. His arraignment is scheduled for Thursday.
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For background, read “Robber with black and white Scream-type mask hits Winlock store” from Wednesday September 7, 2016, here [2]
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[3]Tamrick A. Torres is brought before a judge in Lewis County Superior Court this afternoon.