Suspected bank robber held without bail after crash, shooting
SEATTLE -- The man accused of robbing a bank, then crashing into two cars including a patrol car has been booked into the King County Jail.
Police said Gerald Tracy, 36, is being held without bail under investigation of robbery and assault. He was also wanted on an escape warrant by the Department of Corrections, detectives said.
Tracy is suspected in four different robberies, the latest of which took place on Wednesday.
Investigators believe Tracy robbed a bank in Shoreline just hours before police caught up to him on the road in North Seattle near Greenwood Avenue North and Holman Road North.
Recognizing him as a suspect in the robbery, officers surrounded his silver truck. Tracy refused to surrender, however, and crashed into a police cruiser. An officer, a 10-year veteran of the force, fired four shots and hit Tracy in the arm.
Once hit, officers said Tracy accelerated again, smashing into a nearby SUV, which was carrying a man and his two small children, ages 5 and 11. The three were taken to Harborview Medical Center with minor injuries.
Police said one officer sustained minor injuries.
Tracy was taken to Harborview Medical Center and placed under police watch. He was released on Thursday and booked into jail.
Detectives believe Tracy is behind three other robberies that have taken place in the last week.
On June 28, an espresso stand was robbed in the 14300 block of Greenwood Avenue North. A bank in the 400 block of North 85th Street was robbed the next day. Then on June 30, another bank in the 5500 block of 22nd Avenue Northwest was hit.
The detective who opened fire has been placed under administrative leave as is standard practice during investigation into officer-involved shootings.
Police said Gerald Tracy, 36, is being held without bail under investigation of robbery and assault. He was also wanted on an escape warrant by the Department of Corrections, detectives said.
Tracy is suspected in four different robberies, the latest of which took place on Wednesday.
Investigators believe Tracy robbed a bank in Shoreline just hours before police caught up to him on the road in North Seattle near Greenwood Avenue North and Holman Road North.
Recognizing him as a suspect in the robbery, officers surrounded his silver truck. Tracy refused to surrender, however, and crashed into a police cruiser. An officer, a 10-year veteran of the force, fired four shots and hit Tracy in the arm.
Once hit, officers said Tracy accelerated again, smashing into a nearby SUV, which was carrying a man and his two small children, ages 5 and 11. The three were taken to Harborview Medical Center with minor injuries.
Police said one officer sustained minor injuries.
Tracy was taken to Harborview Medical Center and placed under police watch. He was released on Thursday and booked into jail.
Detectives believe Tracy is behind three other robberies that have taken place in the last week.
On June 28, an espresso stand was robbed in the 14300 block of Greenwood Avenue North. A bank in the 400 block of North 85th Street was robbed the next day. Then on June 30, another bank in the 5500 block of 22nd Avenue Northwest was hit.
The detective who opened fire has been placed under administrative leave as is standard practice during investigation into officer-involved shootings.