A robbery in Bellevue appears to be connected to a larger crime spree across the Eastside.
At approximately 2:48 a.m. this morning, Bellevue Police Officers responded to a robbery at the Arco Midlakes located at the 11600 black on NE 8th Street. The victim told Officers two male suspects – one wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, jeans, and a mask and the other wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, jeans, and a mask – came into the store, threatened the victim with a possible firearm, and allegedly demanded cash from the register and any other cash kept in the store.
The victim then told Bellevue Officers the suspects grabbed the money from both cash registers, and then allegedly stole more items from the shelves and refrigerators in the store – including vapes, torches, cigars, and drinks. Cash and items were stolen from the gas station. The suspects fled the scene using a red 2021 Kia sedan, which was previously reported stolen in Bellevue.
Officers then initiated a vehicle pursuit due to the nature of the crime and the fact that the suspects were an immediate danger to the overall public. At one point during the chase, the suspects intentionally attempted to ram Officers from another agency with the stolen car. Officers lost sight of the vehicle due to the reckless driving of the suspects.
Additionally, Officers with the Clyde Hill Police Department, Medina Police Department, Redmond Police Department, Renton Police Department, Tukwila Police Department, and Washington State Patrol were all involved to various degrees with the pursuit and subsequent incidents across the Eastside. The suspects also may have possibly switched vehicles and fled in a white Hyundai SUV – which was later found abandoned in Renton.
While the incident continues to be investigated by Bellevue Police, the Department commends the quick actions by the victim at the start of the crime. While it is unclear if the suspects were armed, adhering to the suspects’ demands may have saved the victim’s life. Any person who is threatened in this manner must always remember to put their lives ahead of their possessions, and then immediately contact law enforcement following an incident. The victim involved in Tuesday morning’s incident did just that.
The Bellevue Police Department asks any individual who may have more information about the incident Tuesday morning to call law enforcement.
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