Police seek vehicle involved in attempted Horizon robbery

MOSES LAKE — Moses Lake police asking anyone who saw or has video footage of a vehicle belonging a woman who was involved in attempted bank robbery Friday night to come forward.

The 39-year-old victim was allegedly abducted by two males from her residence in the Garden Heights neighborhood around 4 p.m. Friday night. She told investigators her abductors, described as a dark-skinned African-American man in his 30s with a mustache and a Hispanic male between ages 14 and 16 with a “slight” accent, taped, what she thought was at the time, an explosive device to her and forced her to go into the Horizon Credit Union, 1704 S. Clover Dr., and demand money.

The woman was able to get the attention of bank employees and claimed she had been abducted and had a bomb taped to her. Authorities were notified and employees and patrons in the bank were able to safely evacuate the building.

MLPD officers and deputies with the Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded to the bank and surrounded the building. The woman was contacted by negotiators and the Moses Lake Regional Tactical Response Team, the Washington State Patrol Bomb Squad and FBI agents responded to the scene. Police were able to free the woman from the alleged explosive device and she exited the bank.

The bomb squad later determined there were no explosives. MLPD Capt. Dave Sands said the woman had a note with her when she entered the bank, but he did not disclose the contents of the note. The victim was interviewed by police and released later in the night. The woman’s vehicle, a white Chevrolet Trailblazer, was found parked near the bank Friday night and seized for evidence.

“The FBI evidence recovery team processed the vehicle on Monday and essentially there was no big evidence. The forensic evidence will be sent to the lab,” Sands stated on Thursday.

The MLPD is searching for anyone who might have video footage of, or saw, the white Trailblazer in the following areas Friday night:

• The Garden Heights neighborhood

• South Pioneer Way

• East Sharon Avenue

• South Monroe Street

• South Clover Drive

Sands encouraged anyone with information to contact the MLPD 509-764-3887.

Richard Byrd can be reached via email at city@columbiabasinherald.com.