Suspect sought in Ellensburg mini-mart robbery

ELLENSBURG -- Sheriff's detectives say they want to arrest a robbery suspect, but they also want to make sure that his 9-year-old daughter stays safe.

Security video shows the two were together when the man committed the robbery early Tuesday at a convenience store west of Ellensburg, Kittitas County sheriff's said. The pair was last seen in the Yakima area that evening.

The suspect, identified as 42-year-old Robert Daniel Webb of Everett, Wash., has been unemployed for several months from his career in the eyeglass field, Undersheriff Clay Myers said.

"He's feeling the pressure, and it's getting the better of him," Myers said.

During the robbery, which netted about $200, Webb spent a brief time describing his situation to the clerk, Myers said.

The pair was traveling between Everett and Yakima to visit friends, he said.

Although it's well known that bad economic conditions lead to more crime, the robbery is unusual in that the suspect had his daughter right alongside, Myers said.

State court databases don't show any past criminal cases against Webb in Washington.

Although authorities do not believe Webb is a direct threat to his daughter, they are concerned that his actions may place her in danger, Myers said.

Detectives say the two are still believed to be together.

Webb's wife is cooperating with the investigation, although detectives had not developed any new information about his location. They do not know if he is still in the Yakima area, Myers said.

Webb, who goes by "Daniel," is 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 245 pounds. His daughter, Meadow, is 3 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs 50 pounds. She has shoulder-length dark hair and was wearing a pink coat in the robbery video.

Webb was last seen driving a silver 2008 Toyota Corolla with license plate 602-XQG.

Anyone with information about the case may call the sheriff's office at 509-925-8534.

* Mark Morey can be reached at 577-7671 or mmorey@yakimaherald.com.