Deputies shoot, kill suspected 'Fashion Faux Pas Bandit'

One of two men collectively dubbed the "Fashion Faux Pas Bandit" because of their unkempt appearance was the suspected robber shot and killed today by King County sheriff's deputies following a holdup at a nearby credit union, according to the FBI.

A second man who is believed to have participated in the robbery at the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union was arrested, according to the King County Sheriff's Office. The man who was shot is believed to have been the getaway driver.

The FBI says both men were collectively known as the "Fashion Faux Pas Bandit." Investigators initially believed the robber was working alone during earlier bank robberies. However, the FBI now believes the robberies — including one three weeks ago at the same credit union — were carried out by the two men.

One of the men robbed the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union inside a Safeway grocery store, at the corner of North 155th Street and Aurora Avenue North, at around 12:30 p.m., said Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart. After the robbery, the man walked to a waiting red Dodge pickup containing another man and the pair drove off. Two witnesses followed the men as they drove north on Aurora and called 911, Urquhart said.

At least five deputies confronted the suspects after they had gotten out of their truck at the casino, he said.

One of the suspects pulled a gun and was shot by three deputies, who each fired at least once, Urquhart said.

The wounded suspect died while en route to Harborview Medical Center, he said.

The second suspected robber was Tasered and arrested after Urquhart said he became "belligerent" with officers. .

The FBI today identified him as James Bartlow, 47. The FBI believes the two men may be responsible for four bank robberies and one attempted robbery.

Urquhart said the three deputies who opened fire — a sergeant, a detective and a patrol officer — were all veterans. They've been placed on administrative leave, which is routine in an officer-involved shooting, he said.

The three deputies are: a 50-year-old sergeant who has been with the department 19 years; a 40-year-old detective with 7 ½ years on the force; and a 32-year-old patrol officer who is a 9-year veteran. All three are assigned to the City of Shoreline Police Department, which contracts with the Sheriff's Office.

Haley Bolt, 26, was at a nearby convenience store when she spotted several police cars pull into the casino parking lot.

"I heard the cops yelling at the guy to get down," she said.

She heard seven or eight shots, and then saw the deputies taking the other man into custody, Bolt said.

"It was crazy," she said.

At the scene of the shooting, a Glock handgun lay on the ground in the parking lot behind the red pickup.

The same credit union branch had been robbed on Aug. 20 by the man dubbed the "Fashion Faux Pas Bandit" because of his unkempt appearance. The same man returned to the credit union on Aug. 31, but he was recognized by employees, who avoided him until he left empty-handed, according to the FBI.

Less than one hour later, at 6:06 p.m., the same man hit another Alaska USA Federal Credit Union inside a Safeway at 12519 N.E. 85th St., in Kirkland.

The FBI said this afternoon it was believed the robberies were pulled off by one man. But agents now believe Bartlow and the slain man had been wearing similar disguises in earlier robberies.

Urquhart said detectives are investigating whether the men are responsible for other bank robberies.

"There have been a lot of bank robberies in the Seattle area lately involving two suspects," Urquhart said, "so that's something we're looking at."

Earlier this week, the FBI released a list of 17 bank robberies in the area since June 1 that it believes may be the work of the same two men. If they are indeed responsible for all 17, the pair would be the most prolific bank robbers in the Seattle area since 2006, according to the FBI.

However, an FBI spokesman said this afternoon it does not appear the two men sought in connection with the 17 bank robberies were involved in today's robbery.

Seattle Times staff reporters Jennifer Sullivan and Christine Clarridge contributed to this report.

Sara Jean Green: 206-515-5654 or sgreen@seattletimes.com