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Polite Robber charged with First Degree Robbery
Charging documents detail suspect's alleged crime and arrest
By Ty Swenson
02/11/2011

King County Prosecutors have charged Gregory P. Hess, 65, with First Degree Robbery based on evidence and a recorded confession to a robbery that took place Saturday morning, Feb. 5, at the Shell Station at 2805 s.w. Roxbury.

Hess allegedly used a BB gun intended to look like a real handgun in the robbery that yielded him $200 and national attention as the “Polite Robber” in surveillance footage the Shell station owner released to the media.

Hess has made the papers before, earning the FBI nickname “Transaction Bandit” for a string of bank robberies in Seattle in 2003. According to a Seattle Times story, Hess used an air pistol to rob several bank tellers by asking for a small amount of change, then demanded all the money once they opened the drawer. He had recently quit working at a Starbucks and his former co-workers identified him from surveillance footage of the robberies.

The footage of his latest alleged robbery (linked here) quickly went viral on the Internet, showing a calm conversation between Hess and owner/clerk John Henry as the robbery took place. Hess apologetically robbed Henry and promised he would bring the money back if he became more financially stable in the future.

According to charging documents released on Feb. 10, Hess walked into the east door of the Shell Station, filled up a coffee, set it down at the register and fished into his pockets for change.

He counted out the correct change and handed it to clerk and owner Henry, then said calmly, “Do me a favor and put all the money from the till on the counter,” while pulling out a handgun (it turned out to be a BB gun) and pointing it at Henry.

“I’m robbing you, sir,” Hess said.

Surveillance footage showed Henry asking Hess if he was sure about committing the robbery and whether just $40 would work instead of the entire till. Hess insisted on taking all of the money and said he had children to feed and bills to pay.

“I appreciate it and I really am sorry and if I ever get back on my feet again, sir, I’ll bring it back,” Hess said after Henry handed over the money.

“I’m sorry,” Henry responded, “God be with you.”

“Thank you very much and with you too,” Hess said.

Hess put the money in his pocket, tucked the gun into his waistband and got into his maroon 1987 Toyota Tercel.

Charging documents state Henry followed him out to get the license plate number and Hess stepped out of his vehicle, prompting the robbery victim to turn around and head back inside.

Hess left in his Tercel and Henry call 911. On Feb. 6, the next day, King 5 news broke the story and aired surveillance footage of the robbery and getaway car.

On Feb. 7 the King County Sheriff’s Office “received several tips,” all of which pointed to Hess.

King County detectives ran a background check on Hess and found he had a prior for bank robbery in 2003 (the Transaction Bandit arrest) and was currently on probation.

Shell station owner Henry was given a photo montage and picked Hess from the lineup.

Authorities went to his house on s.w. 115th St and saw the maroon 1987 Toyota Tercel parked outside, giving detectives enough for a search warrant. They found Hess in the “lower portion” of the house.

“I’m the one you are looking for,” Hess said, according to charging documents.

Police found the BB gun and clothes used during the robbery and took Hess to Precinct Four.

Once there, according to probable cause documents, Hess “admitted to the robbery using a pellet gun. Hess said he got approximately $200 from the robbery. Hess indicated that he purchased food, gas, paid a cell phone bill and put $90 in his bank account as a result of the robbery.”

Hess will be arraigned on Feb. 24 at the King County Courthouse.