On March 4, 2016 via press release, the FBI Seattle Division announced that the Seattle Safe Streets Task Force (SSTF), a law enforcement partnership that includes the FBI, believes the bank robber nicknamed the Summertime Heat Robber is in custody. The SSTF attributes the December 9, 2015 robbery of the North Bend Bank of America to this robber.
According to the release, “after an exhaustive review of 12 bank robberies in Washington state, investigators believe that the subject’s description and disguises used may be identifiable with Nicholas J. Nelson, 28, of North Bend, Washington, and his clothing.” The twelve robberies stretched nearly a two-year time period from early 2014 to late 2015.
Nelson has been in custody since January 9th, after Auburn Police Department patrol officers arrested him while he was allegedly attempting to rob the customer service desk at the Auburn Fred Meyer using a knife. Investigators also believe Nelson is responsible for the January 2nd robbery of the Issaquah Fred Meyer customer service desk at a Fred Meyer, which similarly involved a knife. The King County Prosecutor’s Office has filed two counts of robbery against Nelson for the two incidents.
According to the FBI, during the January 2nd robbery, the subject wore a blue, hooded jacket and dark glasses. During the January 9th robbery, the subject wore a pink or red hooded jacket. The Summertime Heat Robber typically wore black sunglasses and a baseball cap, and different hooded sweatshirts or a scarf over his face.
The SSTF is still seeking to apprehend Christopher Titian, 24, of Canada. Investigators believe Titian assisted the Summertime Heat Robber by driving him to and from three bank robberies, including the June 25th and July 11th Issaquah robberies and the July 24th Kent robbery.
The Seattle Safe Streets Task Force continues to investigate the following Washington state robberies attributed to the Summertime Heat Robber, including a possible connection to Nelson:
- Wednesday, December 9, 2015 – Bank of America on Bendigo Blvd. N, North Bend
- Thursday, December 3, 2015 – U.S. Bank on NW Gilman Blvd., Issaquah
- Tuesday, December 1, 2015 – Bank of America on Front Street, Issaquah
- Wednesday September 30, 2015 – Crossroads Bank of America on NE 8th St., Bellevue
- Saturday, September 26, 2015 – Chase Bank on Klahanie Dr., Klahanie (Issaquah)
- Monday, September 21, 2015 – Union Bank on Avondale Way, Redmond
- Thursday, September 15, 2015 – Chase Bank on Klahanie Dr., Klahanie (Issaquah)
- Saturday, August 2, 2014 – Chase Bank on A Street, Auburn
- Thursday, July 24, 2014 – Cascade Federal Credit Union on 80th Ave. S, Kent
- Friday, July 11, 2014 – Key Bank on NW Gilman Blvd., Issaquah
- Wednesday, June 25, 2014 – Key Bank on NW Gilman Blvd., Issaquah
- Saturday, February 22, 2014 – Key Bank on NW Gilman Blvd., Issaquah
Law enforcement does stress that Nelson has not been charged with these additional twelve robberies – and that person is presumed innocent unless and until he or she is proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
The SSTF stated it’s only releasing this information in order to reassure the public that investigators no longer expect additional robberies by the Summertime Heat Robber.
During the robberies, the subject made physical threats and, on one occasion, implied that he had a weapon. At the July robbery, the he knocked over a security guard on the way out of the bank. Based on that information, investigators previously warned the public that the Summertime Heat Robber should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information on the robberies is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
