Moses Lake bank robbery investigation continues

Charges pending in court

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake police continue to question witnesses who reportedly saw a Moses Lake man rob a Washington Mutual bank teller at knife-point Monday afternoon.

The case was not been filed in Grant County Superior Court by Tuesday afternoon but the suspect, Allen J. Pavese, 54, remained at Grant County Jail.

He was booked for robbery in the first degree and theft in the first degree, according to a jail record.

Capt. Dave Ruffin said there were at least two customers inside the bank at the time of the alleged robbery.

He said Pavese allegedly displayed a knife to the teller while demanding money. It is still unknown how much money was recovered and how much was reported stolen, he said.

The first indication there was an emergency happened when a bank teller tripped a silent alarm, Ruffin said. Once Pavese reportedly left the bank, a witness called 9-1-1 and provided a detailed description of the suspect, suspect vehicle and the direction he fled.

No injuries were reported at the bank.

When police located Pavese in a Jeep Grand Cherokee, he pulled into a parking space off Holly Street, Ruffin said. There was no vehicle pursuit and he remained compliant with law enforcement, he said.

A pocket knife was located inside the SUV, Ruffin said. Police have not confirmed if it was the knife used during the robbery.

Washington Mutual declined to comment to the Columbia Basin Herald.