Suspect in father-daughter robbery identified
Kittitas County Undersheriff Clayton Myers said phone tips from people who saw the story on the news helped investigators identify the man as 42-year-old Robert Daniel Webb of Everett.
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The robbery that prompted the investigation occurred at the AM/PM Mini Mart just off I-90 at exit 101 around 3 a.m. Tuesday.
Myers said the man believed to be Webb approached the counter, drew a gun and demanded money from the register. The clerk complied and the man then left with the little girl, whom police have identified as Meadow, without further incident.
"I don't think I've ever heard of a little girl with her dad on an armed robbery," Myers said. "How anyone could endanger a child like that? You never know how someone is going to react when you pull a firearm out. How the clerk's going to react, somebody walking in? Absolutely can't even imagine it."
Store manager John Beaty said the night clerk who was robbed thought the gun was a phony and told the robber that.
"Right here the guy is threatening to throw hot coffee on him," Beaty said, while pointing to surveillance video.
The night clerk gave the man less than $200. The robber told his daughter to leave. Probably not realizing what has happened, the girl skipped to the car outside.
The robber spent a few more minutes in the mini-mart.
"He's sort of begging him: 'Just let me and my little girl get away,' " Beaty said.
"As far as we know, he's a very loving father. But he's making some very bad choices right now and has not realized the danger he's putting her in," said Myers.
Webb's last-known address was in Everett, but investigators said he also has ties in Yakima where he was seen Tuesday night. Former neighbors said Webb has had a violent past.
"A lot of screaming and yelling and he broke a window. My neighbor called the police and they arrested him," a former neighbor said.
Court documents show Webb was found guilty of violating a protective order last year. Deputies don't believe his daughter is safe in his care.
"He needs to, if nothing else, he needs to release his child so we can get her out of this situation," said Myers.
Myers said Webb is believed to be driving a silver 2008 Toyota Corolla with license plate 602-XQG. The two were last seen headed east on Interstate 90.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office at (509) 925-8534.
