Tacoma Girl Scout Cookie Robber Left Victims In Tears: Charges

TACOMA, WA - The man accused of trying to rob a group of Girl Scouts selling cookies outside a local grocery store last month left his victims in tears, but was unable to get away with any money because a Girl Scout mother refused his demands, according to court documents.

Roman A. Mira, 23, was arrested Tuesday in Thurston County, according to police. A warrant for his arrest on a second-degree robbery charge was issued last week.

The March 10 incident attracted national attention because of the victims and their popular seasonal product.

According to Tacoma police, the robbery happened around 6:30 p.m. outside a Fred Meyer store along Pacific Avenue. Mira allegedly approached the mother of one of the Girl Scouts and asked if she could break a $100 bill. When the woman pulled a pen out of her fanny pack to test if the $100 bill was counterfeit, Mira allegedly demanded all her money.

"Give me all your money and no one will get hurt," Mira allegedly told the woman.

"Why are you doing this to a Girl Scout?" she responded.

The woman wasn't such an easy target. She argued with Mira, according to Tacoma police, telling him she didn't have any money. That's when Mira allegedly pulled up his shirt, showing what appeared to the mother to be the outline of a handgun.

The mother began talking louder, trying to attract attention from shoppers nearby. Mira and an accomplice then fled the scene, without any cash or cookies. Tacoma police identified Mira as a suspect after the mother picked him out of a lineup.

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