Bellingham grocery cashier refuses demand so he allegedly tried to open money drawer
A man was arrested Wednesday morning after he reportedly demanded money from a Sehome Haggen cashier and then attempted to open the register himself when she walked away.
Bellingham police booked Samuel Adam Flores, 33, into Whatcom County Jail Feb. 5 on suspicion of attempted second degree robbery, after they reportedly found him still attempting to open the cash register. Jail records show Flores is being held in lieu of $2,500 bail.
Officers were called to the store at 5:16 a.m. for the report of a robbery in progress after Flores walked up to the cashier at her register and demanded she open the drawer and give him the money, Lt. Claudia Murphy told The Bellingham Herald in an email.
The cashier refused, and Flores boxed her in while waiting for her to open the register while helping other customers, Murphy wrote.
The cashier walked away from the register, and Murphy reported that Flores then attempted to use the screen to open the register himself.
When officers arrived and found him still at the register, Murphy wrote that Flores backed away and refused to comply with their commands. Officers warned that they would use impact munitions if he did not follow instructions and were then able to take Flores into custody without further incident.
