Lucky Dog Not So Lucky

Cops should try the casino
An Olympia bank robbery suspect's luck ran out Wednesday outside the Lucky Dog Casino north of Shelton.


An Olympia bank robbery suspect's luck ran out Wednesday outside the Lucky Dog Casino north of Shelton.

Two Olympia police detectives arrested 22-year-old Bret A. Kenney about 2:45 p.m. in the parking lot after Kenney had been gambling inside the casino, located off U.S. Highway 101 in the Skokomish Nation, police Lt. Jim Costa said.

Kenney is suspected of robbing the KeyBank in the 700 block of Capitol Way about 10:45 a.m., Costa said.

Based on bank surveillance camera stills, Costa said, state Department of Corrections officials identified Kenney as the robber. The thief made no effort to hide his face, and it is plainly visible in one photo provided to The Olympian.

Detectives Sam Costello and Chris Johnstone got a description of a vehicle belonging to Kenney from the state Department of Licensing and were headed to his last known address in the Port Townsend area when Costello spotted Kenney’s car parked at the casino, Costa said.

The detectives arrested Kenney without incident. They said he had some of the cash stolen from the bank and the demand note used in the robbery, Costa said. No weapon was used during the holdup, he said.

Costello said police were obtaining a search warrant for Kenney’s car. They also will obtain surveillance footage from the casino to determine whether Kenney gambled away any money stolen during the bank robbery.

Costa called Costello’s recognizing Kenney’s car as the detectives sped north on 101 “dynamite police work.”

Costello said good fortune smiled on police.

“You can see the casino from the road,” he said. “I had a picture of (Kenney’s) car I had just looked at. So I knew exactly what I was looking for. I don’t know if it was good police work as much as a little bit of luck.”