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Robbery suspects arrested after high-speed chase through downtown
By LORNA THACKERAY
Of The [Billings, Montana] Gazette Staff
Four people suspected of robbing a Grand Avenue casino were arrested early this morning after a high-speed chase through downtown.
The suspects, including a 15-year-old boy, may also have been involved in attempted robberies this morning at the Lewis and Clark Inn and Gaby's Casino, said Lt. Joe Bryce, spokesman for the Police Department.
Bryce identified the adults arrested as Krystal Clawson, 22; her brother, Michael Clawson, 26; and Bradley Keith, a 23-year-old transient. The Clawsons listed a Billings address, but Michael Clawson had a driver's license from Spokane, Wash., that identified him as Michael Tabert, Bryce said.
The three adults are all charged with robbing Nickel's Casino at 825 Grand Ave. with a baseball bat. Michael Clawson was also charged with criminal endangerment. Police said he was driving during the attempted escape from police.
The teenager was not identified. He has been charged with robbery by accountability and is being held in the Youth Detention Facility, Bryce said.
According to the lieutenant, events were set in motion shortly after midnight when a robbery attempt was reported at the Lewis and Clark Inn at 1701 First Ave. N. A suspect with an aluminum baseball bat demanded money, but left when the clerk refused.
The next call came at 1:29 a.m. from Gaby's Casino at 105 Fifth St. W. The police report said two suspects, one with a bat, approached the bartender for money. He also refused, and the suspects left.
At 1:50 a.m. three people with a bat successfully robbed Nickel's Casino. The amount of money taken was not disclosed.
Not long after, Officer Justin Jagers spotted a suspicious car as he was searching the area for the robbers. No vehicle description had been provided, Bryce said, but Jagers thought the occupants were behaving suspiciously and followed them.
When another patrol car joined him, the officers tried to pull over the 1998 Kia at First Avenue North and Division Street.
The Kia, which belonged to Krystal Clawson, didn't stop and turned east onto Montana Avenue.
Bryce said the car sped through town at 45 to 50 mph, then turned south on 27th Street. At that point, speeds increased to 75 mph as the Kia headed toward the Interstate 90 overpass.
As the suspects approached the overpass, a semi-truck pulled onto 27th Street, forcing the Kia to take evasive action and run into a guardrail, Bryce said. Three suspects remained in the vehicle. But Michael Clawson ran and was found later hiding under a camper at 2314 Belknap Ave., police said.
Bryce said that no one was injured in the accident, but that Michael Clawson may have suffered a broken ankle while fleeing on foot.
Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.
By LORNA THACKERAY
Of The [Billings, Montana] Gazette Staff
Four people suspected of robbing a Grand Avenue casino were arrested early this morning after a high-speed chase through downtown.
The suspects, including a 15-year-old boy, may also have been involved in attempted robberies this morning at the Lewis and Clark Inn and Gaby's Casino, said Lt. Joe Bryce, spokesman for the Police Department.
Bryce identified the adults arrested as Krystal Clawson, 22; her brother, Michael Clawson, 26; and Bradley Keith, a 23-year-old transient. The Clawsons listed a Billings address, but Michael Clawson had a driver's license from Spokane, Wash., that identified him as Michael Tabert, Bryce said.
The three adults are all charged with robbing Nickel's Casino at 825 Grand Ave. with a baseball bat. Michael Clawson was also charged with criminal endangerment. Police said he was driving during the attempted escape from police.
The teenager was not identified. He has been charged with robbery by accountability and is being held in the Youth Detention Facility, Bryce said.
According to the lieutenant, events were set in motion shortly after midnight when a robbery attempt was reported at the Lewis and Clark Inn at 1701 First Ave. N. A suspect with an aluminum baseball bat demanded money, but left when the clerk refused.
The next call came at 1:29 a.m. from Gaby's Casino at 105 Fifth St. W. The police report said two suspects, one with a bat, approached the bartender for money. He also refused, and the suspects left.
At 1:50 a.m. three people with a bat successfully robbed Nickel's Casino. The amount of money taken was not disclosed.
Not long after, Officer Justin Jagers spotted a suspicious car as he was searching the area for the robbers. No vehicle description had been provided, Bryce said, but Jagers thought the occupants were behaving suspiciously and followed them.
When another patrol car joined him, the officers tried to pull over the 1998 Kia at First Avenue North and Division Street.
The Kia, which belonged to Krystal Clawson, didn't stop and turned east onto Montana Avenue.
Bryce said the car sped through town at 45 to 50 mph, then turned south on 27th Street. At that point, speeds increased to 75 mph as the Kia headed toward the Interstate 90 overpass.
As the suspects approached the overpass, a semi-truck pulled onto 27th Street, forcing the Kia to take evasive action and run into a guardrail, Bryce said. Three suspects remained in the vehicle. But Michael Clawson ran and was found later hiding under a camper at 2314 Belknap Ave., police said.
Bryce said that no one was injured in the accident, but that Michael Clawson may have suffered a broken ankle while fleeing on foot.
Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.
