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 Linda Thomas
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Linda is the morning news anchor and features reporter for KIRO Radio. This is her local news blog, with an emphasis on social media, technology, Northwest companies, education, parenting, and anything else that grabs her attention.

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Bikini Barista
The cliche about police officers loving donuts began when they visited bakeries for coffee and donuts since they were often the only neighborhood shops open. But in the Puget Sound region, local cops from Everett to Kent seem to be spending a lot of time undercover at barista stands. (MyNorthwest file photo)

For cops, bikini barista stands might be the new donut shops

February 28, 2013 @ 7:04 pm (Updated: 8:36 am - 3/1/13 )

The cliche about police officers loving donuts began when they visited bakeries for coffee and donuts. Those neighborhood shops were often the only businesses open early in the morning.

Local cops from Everett to Kent seem to be spending far more time at bikini barista stands than in donut shops.

Kent police say two baristas were arrested for committing lewd acts in the presence of undercover police officers.

The police investigation into Twin Peaks Espresso started several months ago, in late 2012 after several people complained that the women would expose themselves for excess cash or commit lewd acts.

Officers arrested a 23-year-old woman and a 19-year-old girl after discovering, through their undercover research involving drive ups and site surveillance, that woman would flash their private parts if customers paid excessive tips of up to $25.

This bust of bust exposure follows a case a couple weeks ago at the Grab-N-Go espresso stands at two locations in Everett.

Again, people complained about indecent exposure so what else could officers do? They had to spend two months investigating the alleged violation of city adult-entertainment codes.

Undercover work by officers led to the arrests of three baristas who at times didn't even serve coffee.

Does that sound familiar?

Everett Police have been there before. In 2009, another two-month undercover investigation led to five arrests at one of the same Grab-N-Go stands.

As much as the Seattle-area has a rich coffee history, it has a more recent history of undercover police investigations of bikini barista stands.

These cases generally seem to take a full two months to investigate.

A couple of years ago, the Edmonds Police Department orchestrated a nine-month undercover investigation resulting in the arrest of the Java Juggs Espresso owner and three employees.

At the time, Edmonds PD Sgt. Don Anderson defended the undercover officers.

"This wasn't their only ongoing investigation or their only priority," he said, "but enough complaints came in from the community that it was obvious we had an obligation to investigate."

By LINDA THOMAS

More from Linda Thomas

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Comments (64)


  • Add A Comment

  • doublej wrote...
    In Spokane
    March 1, 2013 6:51 am
    a few months ago, there was a story where the cops busted a prostitution ring in a massage parlor. When the details were released, one of the ones I remember was that investigator #9 made 29 visits in a 3 month period. Heck of a job if you can get it I guess.
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  • Chuck Gould wrote...
    But when the Spokane cop visited the same hooker 29 times over 3 months....
    March 1, 2013 7:05 am
    he didn't enjoy it. I'm sure it says so in his report, and that he would testify to same in court. Absolutely no purpose, except to collect evidence (and release something else).
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  • soo purletiv wrote...
    Hmmm...
    March 1, 2013 6:56 am
    Twin Peaks, Grab-N-Go, and Java Juggs.

    I sense a pattern here, but just can't put my hands on it quite yet.

    Methinks me will have to continue my investigation. Hands on, of course...

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  • Annie (1) wrote...
    Maybe that's why??
    March 1, 2013 7:30 am
    Maybe it took that long precisely because it wasn't the only thing they were working on--any thought given to that at all??? In reply to Mr.Gould--$100,000 PLUS! a year??? My 30 year Police Officer husband must have been working for the wrong department...dang!
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  • Zoeller wrote...
    Are you ----ing kidding me?????
    March 1, 2013 7:56 am
    A five month investigation and they give out two misdemeanors? Now that is some well spent tax payer money. Who is in charge of these clowns? No wonder the Kent and Everett PD will not respond to burglaries they are too busy hanging out looking for bare b00bies. Stop wasting our money.
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  • BigBlackGuy wrote...
    Great Story Linda!
    March 1, 2013 8:18 am
    At first I thought the reduction in profiling and Harassment was because cops got busted by the feds for their racist brutality. But boy was I wrong; it's because New bikini barista stands have been popping up faster than cops can re-buckle their utility belts. Such bafoons.
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  • Stevebo wrote...
    The story is relevant.
    March 1, 2013 8:28 am
    I understand what you're trying to say Cash, but honestly... there truly isn't any real justification for this.

    As Linda and others have pointed out... we're talking about using valuable police resources to police what amounts to misdemeanor charges and morality where there are FAR more important issues where police resources would better be used.

    I simply cannot see or fathom how there can be real justification for use of resources this way in the light of far more pressing matters.

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  • dexterjibs wrote...
    I am guessing
    March 1, 2013 8:46 am
    the cops really didn't initiate this investigation. They were forced to investigate because some do-gooder citizens, business owners and politicians demanded it. I wonder why this is illegal anyway?
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  • Lake Tapps Chris wrote...
    I'm sure the cops ...I
    March 1, 2013 8:52 am
    would consider this a good "Bust". Why can't they get back to work and catch some real criminals. Maybe some car theiving rings or something? Oh wait, stealing cars isn't a police-able crime anymore is it. It's a homeowners issue.. That leaves more time for barista investigations
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  • Lake Tapps Chris wrote...
    "Thieving"
    March 1, 2013 9:04 am
    Also, How does a police chief justify this time spent by his officers? With even a straight face? I would be totally embarrased as a police cheif to hear of this and see it in the news.
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  • anotherfencewalker wrote...
    Low Spark Crime...
    March 1, 2013 9:01 am
    I understand and advocate that the flash for pay entertainment that the Baristas offer needs a bit of monitoring. It can easily escalate beyond a friendly flash. If it turns into a bigger part of the business than a cup of coffee you know who will eventually show up for a cut of the money, right? Organized crime loves this kind of stuff if the volume is right. But, reality bites and to see much more than an occasional lookee lou by the cops is not money well spent. Not now when the gangers are roaming the streets looking for a hit and property crimes are now back page headlines.
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  • mpblue wrote...
    A bit over the top, Linda
    March 1, 2013 9:06 am
    I understand the direction you took with this article but you failed to address the reality of these types of investigations. We don't like them but do them because someone gets a wild notion that it is somehow bad for society. They complain loudly to their various representatives who then come to the chief and say, "Do something!" Never mind that the Chief may tell the council, "It's not an issue and we have other things to work on." It becomes such a hot button that a Chief will do the investigation in an effort to placate those council members or mayor who is loudly calling for an "investigation." We recognize it for the waste of time it can be. Be we also recognize that we have to do things that we don't necessarily see as important or vital to the mission. It's akin to you being told to do a story that doesn't interest you but you do it anyway because if you don't, you lose your job. Personally, I like my coffee from those who are covered. My Grande Pike drip with room from my Big Green is more than enough. But if someone wants a peek and other nastiness to go with their overpriced cup of coffee, more power to them. It's those who take offense to the stands that drives these types of investigations.
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  • TheNewsChick wrote...
    mpmblue
    March 3, 2013 7:26 am
    I actually agree I was a bit over the flashing top on this case. I'm doing a public records request to find out how much time/effort really is put into these cases.
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