Suspected casino robber arrested near park

A man suspected of robbing an Evergreen casino and later accused of stealing a cell phone was arrested Thursday afternoon following a traffic stop near Woodland Park.

Robert Allen Lake, 21, was pulled over Thursday and taken into custody after allegedly stealing a cell phone from a nurse at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, according to the Flathead County Sheriff's Office.

Authorities issued a bulletin with Lake's description and the description of his car about 1:30 p.m. Thursday. A deputy soon spotted Lake near Woodland Park and, along with other deputies and Kalispell police officers, arrested him without incident.

Lake also is a suspect in the September attempted robbery of the Players Club casino, located in the 2100 block of U.S. 2 in Evergreen.

A man brandishing pepper spray entered the casino just after midnight on Sept. 14 and contaminated one employee and four patrons before fleeing without any cash.

Lake and two passengers were taken into custody following Thursday's traffic stop and questioned at the Sheriff's Office.

After interviews with detectives, Lake was arrested on suspicion of robbery and theft. He was being held Friday in the Flathead County Detention Center pending official charges from the Flathead County Attorney's Office.

The Players Club casino previously was robbed on Oct. 15, 2008. In that case, a man in a ski mask entered the building, threatened an employee with a handgun and escaped with money.