MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Police find convicted bank robber’s bunker in Sammamish

Mar 10, 2015, 12:57 PM | Updated: 11:05 pm

Police discovered a hidden bunker in Sammamish they say belonged to a convicted bank robber once featured on “America’s Most Wanted.”

Police, FBI, and ATF agents searched the 8×10 foot bunker off Lake Sammamish Parkway Tuesday morning.

The Sammamish Review reports guns and stolen goods were found inside the bunker, but the FBI won’t disclose the contents, saying it will compromise the investigation.

The Eastside hideaway is believed to be that of 46-year-old Bradley Robinett, according the FBI. It was discovered during an investigation of Robinett.

The FBI said it believes Robinett has other caches around the state.

Robinett, who was featured on “Washington’s Most Wanted” and “America’s Most Wanted” in 2011, was arrested in June 2014 while on the run in Oregon. He pleaded guilty last month to escape, unlawful possession of a firearm, and vehicle theft.

Prior to his arrest in June, investigators said they last saw Robinett in Nov. 2009 when state troopers encountered him at a Bellevue Park and Ride. Robinett tried to ram a trooper’s car with a stolen vehicle before taking off. The trooper avoided the crash, but was not able to stop Robinett.

During the five years he was on the run, police said Robinett committed crimes across Washington and Oregon.

The FBI believes Robinett has other caches around the state and continues to search for them. If anyone finds anything suspicious they are asked not to go in and to notify authorities.

Robinett is expected to be sentenced in May.

The FBI is also looking for bunkers or caches linked to serial killer Israel Keyes, who committed a number of murders including several in Washington state before committing suicide in an Alaska jail. Authorities hope calling attention to Robinett’s bunker may help uncover new clues that lead to the discovery of Keyes’ caches.

KIRO Radio’s Josh Kerns and MyNorthwest’s Kipp Robertson contributed to this report.

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