Robbed barista: 'Anyone would be scared'
The 18-year-old barista ran into trouble when a man walked up to the stand on Greenwood Avenue and ordered a mocha. But that's not all he wanted.
Surveillance footage shows the man, whom police have identified as 36-year-old Gerald Tracy, becoming verbally abusive and demanding with Caughron.
When the teen closed the stand's sliding glass window, he punched his fist through it.
"Bam! There comes the glass," Caughron said.
The man demanded cash from the register.
"As quick as I could, handed him the money and he took off running," said the barista.
But it appears he also really wanted that mocha, too. Footage shows the man grab his coffee before fleeing.
Investigators said the espresso stand is just one incident in a string of recent robberies Tracy is suspected in. He's also accused of robbing three banks in the past two weeks.
The first robbery took place the day after the espresso stand was hit.
After the third bank was robbed in Shoreline last Wednesday, Tracy was shot by police while trying to flee. Investigators said he rammed into a patrol car, prompting officers to open fire. Once hit, officers said Tracy accelerated again, smashing into a nearby SUV.
"It was a couple days later that I found out. I couldn't believe that," said Caughron. "Start out with a coffee stand and end up robbing three banks."
Police say Tracy is a man with a violent temper and a willingness to rob, his alleged crime spree having started at a small espresso stand where a young woman is still shaking off a wild burst of anger.
"Anyone would be scared in that kind of situation," Caughron said.
Gerald is being held at the King County Jail under investigation of robbery and assault. Bail has been set at $1 million.
He is scheduled to be arraigned in two weeks.