Driver killed, robber arrested after bank heist

A bank-robbing duo — a stickup man and getaway driver known collectively as the "Fashion Faux Pas Bandit" — had pulled off at least three recent bank robberies before the driver was fatally shot and the second man was arrested in a Shoreline parking lot Thursday, according to the FBI.

The shooting and arrest occurred minutes after a noon-hour robbery at a credit union on Aurora Avenue North when King County sheriff's deputies confronted the pair in the parking lot of the Club Hollywood Casino, said sheriff's spokesman Sgt. John Urquhart.

The "Fashion Faux Pas Bandit" — so named because the robberies were carried out by a man who often wore white socks with brown slip-on shoes and shorts — was identified as James Bartlow, 47, according to FBI Special Agent Marty Prewett. His accomplice, who was shot and killed by three sheriff's deputies, has not yet been identified.

Up until Thursday, FBI agents thought Bartlow was working alone, Prewett said. But now they believe Bartlow and the other man pulled off their robberies together, including an Aug. 20 robbery at the same branch of the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union.

Bartlow is suspected of robbing the credit union inside a Safeway supermarket at 15332 Aurora Ave. N. shortly before 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Urquhart said. Bartlow and his driver then took off in a red Dodge pickup.

Two witnesses who apparently were inside the Safeway store during the robbery called 911 as they followed the Dodge north on Aurora Avenue, he said.

The witnesses alerted the 911 operator that the Dodge had pulled into Club Hollywood Casino, and officers soon descended on the parking lot at 16716 Aurora Ave. N., Urquhart said.

Bartlow and his driver had gotten out of their pickup when they were confronted by at least five sheriff's deputies, Urquhart said. The driver pulled a gun and was shot by three of the deputies, who each fired at least once, he said.

The man died on his way to Harborview Medical Center.

Like the driver, Bartlow refused to obey the officers' commands and became belligerent, Urquhart said. He was Tasered and placed under arrest.

Deputies recovered a black, semi-automatic handgun, which could be seen lying on the pavement near the spot where medics had treated the driver before taking him away in an ambulance.

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

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

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

"It was crazy," Bolt said.

After apparently robbing the same credit union Aug. 20, Bartlow is suspected of returning to the bank Aug. 31. But during that attempted robbery, 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., Bartlow is suspected of robbing another branch of the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, this time inside a Kirkland Safeway store at 12519 N.E. 85th St., the FBI said.

According to the FBI, the "Fashion Faux Pas Bandit" favored white socks, brown slip-on shoes, baseball caps, dark sunglasses and shorts. In each robbery he demanded money and was aggressive, verbally abusive and claimed to have a gun, the FBI said.

The FBI last week released bank surveillance photos of the so-called "Fashion Faux Pas Bandit." Some of the photos appear to show two different men.

Urquhart said the three deputies who opened fire — a sergeant, a detective and a patrol officer — are all veterans. They have 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 nine-year veteran.

All three are assigned to the city of Shoreline Police Department, which contracts with the Sheriff's Office for law-enforcement services.

Seattle Times staff reporters Jennifer Sullivan and

Christine Clarridge

contributed to this report.

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