Thurston deputies search for men accused of armed robbery near elementary school
Thurston County deputies are searching for two men accused of robbing a grocery store and fleeing through a school field near Lacey.
The men allegedly robbed Buddie’s Grocery and Deli at 6501 Martin Way East at around 5:45 p.m. Tuesday while armed with a gun, Lt. Cameron Simper told The Olympian.
They allegedly stole from a clerk and customer at the store before fleeing in a U-Haul truck, Simper said. No one at the store was injured, he added.
“As the clerk was held at gunpoint, a second suspect ran behind the counter and began taking items and money,” Simper said. “A customer that was behind them was also robbed by the suspect with a gun.”
Deputies observed the U-Haul truck and pursed the vehicle. At one point, Simper said, the driver of the truck sideswiped another vehicle.
Eventually, the truck drove through an unoccupied field at Lydia Hawk Elementary School, Simper said. The driver tried to turn the vehicle around but got stuck in mud, he added.
The two men then fled on foot. Deputies brought in K9s to track them, he said, but were unsuccessful after searching for nearly an hour.
Simper shared few details about the two men, saying he only knew they wore black clothing and masks.
“Currently, it’s been assigned to a detective,” Simper said. “We’re conducting follow up and trying to obtain images.”
Deputies secured the truck, but the two men are still at large and may still have the gun they used in the robbery.
Anyone with information about the two men can call the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office at 360-786-5500.
This story was originally published March 16, 2022 at 11:16 AM.
