A 50-year-old Auburn man was arrested Sunday morning, Nov. 16, 2025 after police say he robbed a Kent espresso stand at gunpoint, fled to Auburn, and later hid inside a neighboring apartment before surrendering to officers using de-escalation tactics.
Kent Police said the incident involved coordinated efforts between their department along with Auburn Police.
Kent officers were dispatched to an espresso stand in the 1700 block of Central Ave South (map below) at 6:45 a.m. for a reported robbery. The 29-year-old victim, a Milton woman working at the stand, told officers the man ordered a coffee, then displayed a black handgun and demanded cash. She handed over the money and the suspect drove away in a white vehicle.
Police said she feared she would be shot.
After reviewing surveillance footage, officers identified the suspect vehicle’s license plate and used the Flock Safety camera system to confirm it was traveling southbound into Auburn. Auburn Police located the vehicle parked outside a fourplex registered to the owner and began surveillance. Kent officers responded to the scene.
At 8:52 a.m., Auburn Police reported that a man matching the suspect’s description was inside the unit. Officers set a perimeter and became concerned the situation could escalate into a hostage incident. Multiple people inside the unit were evacuated, but a 16-month-old child was accidentally left behind.
Around the same time, police received a 911 call from a woman reporting that her husband in a neighboring unit had phoned to say the suspect had entered their apartment and was hiding in their closet. Officers entered the original unit to safely retrieve the sleeping child and also evacuated the neighboring family.
Auburn officers used a PA system to call out to the suspect, who eventually exited while holding a steak knife to his own throat. Officers used de-escalation techniques until he set the knife down and was taken into custody without injury.
Kent detectives interviewed the man, who was later booked into jail on suspicion of first degree robbery.
No injuries were reported.
“We want to thank Auburn WA Police Department for their immediate and extensive support during this incident,” police said. “Their quick surveillance on the suspect’s apartment, was critical in limiting his ability to escape into their community.”
Kent P.D. also added:
“We are also thankful for the training and tech our officers have that support their mission during these time sensitive and dangerous incidents. When minutes and seconds count, systems like Flock Safety Cameras that give an immediate direction of travel for a suspect vehicle are critical.”
