Update: Judge places Target robbery suspects on $100,000 bail

A Thurston County Superior Court Judge ordered two men accused of robbing the Olympia Target store on Sunday night each be held on $100,000 bail.

Abdi Hersi, 31, and Trenale Belton, 44, were both arrested Monday morning after allegedly fleeing Target in a U-Haul.

Judge John Skinder found probable cause to charge Hersi with first-degree robbery while armed with a firearm, first-degree theft and first-degree kidnapping. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Jackson said the kidnapping charge stems from Hersi allegedly coercing a Target employee to walk him to the front entrance of the store under threat of violence.

A judge had previously found probable cause to charge Belton with first-degree robbery while armed with a firearm. Belton — who was arrested approximately six hours before Hersi — had been scheduled to appear in court Monday. However, while in jail he declined to appear to his hearing, said a jail corrections officer.

At the hearing, Jackson argued each suspect be held on $100,000 bail, arguing that the seriousness of the allegations and each suspect’s criminal history warranted the high amount. Public defender Danielle Walker argued each be held on $5,000, saying that, while each suspect has criminal history, they had limited history of violent offenses.

Judge John Skinder opted for $100,000 bail for each, saying he was concerned about the seriousness of the allegations.

According to Olympia Police Department Lt. Paul Lower, two suspects went to Target in west Olympia just past 10 p.m. In the electronic department of the store, one of the men allegedly displayed a gun to a store employee, and demanded the employee fill a shopping cart with expensive equipment, including headphones and smart watches.

One of the suspects fled with the cart through an emergency exit, while the one armed with a gun forced the employee to escort him to the front of the store. Both suspects were seen leaving in a U-Haul truck.