Accused Bellevue golf shop thief pleads not guilty

A Tacoma man accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of golf clubs from two stores in Bellevue pleaded not guilty in court today. Cameron Rowley has been held in the King County Jail on $50,000 bail since he was arrested last Thursday in Lakewood by Bellevue police detectives. They say he confessed to stealing new ping drivers and then selling them on Facebook Marketplace. Marketplace, there's some The surveillance video shows him running out of the putts store in Bellevue with the clubs while another man held the door open for him. That man then violently attacked a store clerk who found who followed them out. He has not been caught yet. Rowley was identified from the surveillance video, thanks to your tips, to Crime Stoppers that provided a link to his ads on Facebook Marketplace selling the clubs. In court today, his attorney asked Judge Nelson Lee to release him on personal recognizance, arguing he wasn't the one who attacked the employee, lives in Tacoma, and has four minor children. All of Mr. Rowley's criminal history relates to property crimes and substance use. He has no violent history, including this charge. Given the nature of Mr. Rowley's criminal history and the instant charge, the state cannot show that there is such a likelihood that Mr. Rowley will commit a violent crime as to require bail. Judge Lee did not release Rowley, but he did lower his bail to $20,000. Bellevue police are continuing to investigate, and more arrests are expected.