Bellevue Beat Blog

Four juveniles were arrested Friday evening following a carjacking incident beginning in Bellevue and spanning all the way to Washington State’s southern border.

The case started close to 7:00pm on Friday when BPD Officers responded to reports of a carjacking with a firearm at the 10000 block of NE 13^th Place Bellevue. The four suspects – a 14-year-old male, a 15-year-old male, and 16-year-old male, and a 17-year-old male – followed the victim in a white Hyundai Elantra to the victim’s residential neighborhood before exiting the vehicle and holding the victim at gunpoint.

Following a brief exchange, the suspects then stole the victim’s black BMW X5 vehicle along with their purse, shopping merchandise, potted plants, an Apple iPad, two tabletop baby seats, and three car seats. The stolen Hyundai was quickly found abandoned by Officers near the scene of the carjacking. It was there where most of the victim’s belongings were found and left behind.

The Bellevue PD continued its investigation of the carjacking and was quickly contacted by Officers with the Tumwater Police Department who reported receiving a call involving suspects matching the stolen vehicle and suspicious individuals dumping items involved with the Bellevue incident near a dumpster in the city limits. The individuals were confirmed to be the suspects of the carjacking.  

Then at approximately 9:00pm that evening, members of the Joint Base Lewis-McChord notified the BPD about the suspects attempting to enter the base along its entrance at 41 Street near Exit 120 on Interstate-5. It was at this time when the Washington State Patrol joined the case where Officers followed the vehicle southbound I-5 to the City of Vancouver. WSP Officers stopped the vehicle at 9:20pm along I-5 near Exit 14 and arrested all four suspects during that time.

Bellevue Officers took the suspects into custody at the WSP’s Chehalis Office and were booked at the BPD for Robbery (1^st Degree) and Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. The stolen BMW was towed and secured at the Department’s garage for further investigation.

While the City of Bellevue remains a safe community, crime does happen. The Department asks residents to stay vigilant while conducting errands or commuting around the city. And if you see something suspicious, immediately contact the BPD for assistance.

Meet the new Bellevue Light Rail Unit (BLU) during the City’s ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 27

BELLEVUE, Wash. – Ahead of the grand opening of Sound Transit’s 2 Line on April 27, the Bellevue Police Department (BPD) is preparing to officially roll out its new police unit – The Bellevue Light Rail Unit (BLU) – a dedicated unit designed to foster a safe and positive riding experience for individuals and families wishing to use the new Link Light Rail Service through Bellevue.

“As the City of Bellevue continues to Link up with the greater Puget Sound region, our officers are committed to helping continue Bellevue’s reputation as being the go-to place to safely work, live, and play. The BPD’s new Light Rail Unit accomplishes this goal,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of Police. “Whenever you’re riding the 2 Line and see a BLU officer at your station or on your train, just remember: they’re there for you.”

Each of Bellevue’s six Link stops is within the patrol duties of the BLU team, helping to ensure the BPD accomplishes its mission to reduce crime and the fear of crime in the community. This is why BPD’s BLU has partnered with Sound Transit and King County representatives to determine the best strategy to deploy the Unit’s Officers throughout the City of Bellevue.

“We appreciate the City of Bellevue’s partnership in supplementing Sound Transit’s on-board and in-station security teams to help keep our Eastside light rail passengers safe,” said Russ Arnold, Sound Transit deputy CEO and chief service delivery officer.

The BPD invites the community to meet its new BLU unit at the City’s official light rail ribbon-cutting ceremony on April 27 at the Bellevue Downtown Station. More details about the event can be found here.

Two suspects – a 22-year-old female and a 30-year-old male – were arrested last Friday for identity theft and driving a stolen vehicle in an eleven-mile, multi-city incident across Bellevue and Kirkland communities.

While on active patrol, Bellevue Police Officers attempted to stop the suspects at Factoria Mall (Factoria Boulevard SE) for driving a white Chevrolet Tahoe with fraudulent operating trip permits. The vehicle was previously reported stolen by Tukwila PD.

This routine traffic stop quickly escalated when the male suspect, the driver of the vehicle, eluded the responding Officer and sped away from the Mall – driving northbound on Richards Road and Lake Hills Connector. Officers in both marked and unmarked vehicles proceeded to follow the vehicle as it traveled northbound I-405 to Exit 18 and entered the City of Kirkland.

Kirkland PD joined Bellevue PD in this effort where they located the vehicle at a nearby Shell gas station near the 4th Street and Central Way intersection. It appeared the driver (male suspect) stopped for gas, but due to the male suspect’s proximity to the stolen vehicle, Officers declined to detain him.

Instead, Officers attempted to disable the vehicle via spike strips when the suspect exited the gas station heading eastbound on Central Way. The driver avoided the strips by performing a dangerous U-turn across a raised median, and then fled Officers by driving westbound at a high-rate speed.

Officers temporarily lost sight of the suspects, but thanks to guidance provided by concerned citizens who saw the Tahoe’s reckless speeding, Officers were able to track and locate the vehicle at Waverly Beach Park. Law Enforcement found the stolen car abandoned, but Officers quickly caught and apprehended both suspects at the Park’s bathroom facilities.

After arresting both suspects, Officers found stolen mail and a $3,000 cashier’s check in the name of a resident of Kirkland. The suspects also had in their possession numerous state-issued IDs, credit cards, and checks in the names of other individuals from Kentucky and Washington State.

Both suspects were taken to Overlake Hospital where they received medical treatment prior to booking. The stolen vehicle was impounded and sent to the Bellevue Police Department.

The suspects were both arrested on suspicion of Obstruction and Identity Theft (2nd Degree). The female suspect was also arrested for Taking a Vehicle Without Permission (2nd Degree) while the male suspect was apprehended for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Taking a Vehicle Without Permission, Eluding an Officer, and Driving with a Suspended License (3rd Degree).

Thanks to the BPD and KPD’s policing tactics, Officers were able to largely maintain safety while also holding suspects accountable for breaking the law.

Continuing its effort to prevent vehicle theft crime across the City of Bellevue, the Bellevue Police Department (BPD) will hold another Steering Wheel Lock Giveaway event this Saturday from 12:00-4:00pm at the Department’s Crossroads Police Substation. The event is open to all motorists wishing to protect their vehicles from theft.

WHAT: Steering Wheel Lock Giveaway

WHEN: 12:00-4:00pm, April 20, 2024

WHERE: 15600 NE 8th Street, Bellevue, WA 98008 (Next to Planet Fitness)

These events are part of a larger effort to reduce the number of thefts of vehicles throughout the Puget Sound region after a popular online trend particularly caused thefts of KIA and Hyundai vehicles to increase. Owners attending Saturday’s event will receive a FREE wheel lock as well as be given crime prevention information for their vehicle. No appointment is necessary, and locks will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a one-lock limit per person.

The Giveaway Program remains very popular for residents and families across Bellevue. During last month’s Giveaway at Factoria Mall, more than 237 locks were provided – with more than 700 locks given away to individuals throughout the entirety of the Program to date.

Additionally, owners of KIA and Hyundai vehicles may be eligible for a free software upgrade from the manufacturer. The Bellevue Police Department strongly urges owners to use this upgrade as well as take these measures that could reduce their chances of becoming a victim of theft by considering the following:

• Have all recall work and software updates performed by an authorized dealer as soon as possible.
• Use a steering wheel lock.
• Consider purchasing an alarm system.
• Place a tracking device, such as an AirTag, in your vehicle to aid in recovery.

If you are an owner of a KIA or Hyundai, please use the QR Code below to see if your vehicle is eligible for a software upgrade.

Earlier this week, investigators with the Bellevue Police Department took down a major West Coast organized retail theft ring that police say is responsible for the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars in merchandise. The suspects, 24-year-old Janeice Downs, 19-year-old Reality Leavens, and 49-year-old Janeice Wiley, Downs’ mother, were formally charged today in King County Superior Court. Downs and her accomplices are alleged to have, on a regular and ongoing basis as recently as April 7th, committed documented retail thefts totaling over $537,000 on at least 42 different occasions. The trio is alleged to have targeted primarily LuluLemon stores located in Western Washington, Northern Oregon, and Southern California. Police worked closely with LuluLemon’s regional Organized Retail Crime Investigator for the region on these cases.

Downs and her associates are alleged to have brazenly stole thousands of dollars worth of merchandise each time they entered, often times stuffing bags full of merchandise before fleeing the store. They typically used vehicles that did not have license plates or that were purchased using fraudulent documents.

This past Tuesday, Bellevue Police, with the assistance of the Valley SWAT team and the Tukwila Police Department, served a search warrant at Downs’ residence in Kent. Bellevue Police investigators seized suspected stolen items, distinctive clothing worn during the alleged thefts, a vehicle that is suspected to have been used in several of the thefts, as well as three semi-automatic rifles. Both Downs and her mother Janeice, both of whom were home at the time the search warrant was served, are convicted felons and as such are prohibited from possessing firearms. Downs and Wiley were both arrested at the residence. Another accomplice, an 11-year-old juvenile female, was observed by a Detective sitting in the audience at Downs’ court appearance. That juvenile, who police allege was often present or participated in some of the thefts, was identified and released, and investigators plan on forwarding charges to the Juvenile Prosecutor.

Bellevue Police Assistant Chief of Police Andrew Popochock, speaking about this case, stated: “This case is an excellent example of the hard work of our Officers and Detectives.” Popochock continued: “The message is clear: if you engage in criminal activities in Bellevue, we will work tirelessly to locate you and hold you accountable for your actions.”

A man was arrested yesterday following a crime spree spanning several jurisdictions. Yesterday morning at 12:30 p.m., Bellevue Police responded to a residence in the 12000 block of NE 26th Place. Officers arrived and learned that the suspect, who was later identified as a 44-year-old man, had crashed his vehicle near that location. The suspect then reportedly forced entry into a residence and demanded the victim’s car keys at gunpoint. The victim gave the suspect keys to a vehicle that was not at the home, and then fled to another room, called 911, and armed herself. The suspect exited the residence, and, when he realized that the keys provided were not to the vehicle in the driveway, he fired a shot through the front door of the residence.

The suspect then entered the garage of the residence through an exterior door, got into a vehicle that was parked inside, and backed through the closed garage door, causing significant damage. The suspect fled the scene while Officers were responding.

Bellevue investigators were able to determine the identity of the suspect by evidence left at the scene. Later that afternoon, the suspect carjacked a vehicle in the city of Woodinville. Police broadcast a region-wide bulletin with the description of the suspect and carjacked vehicle. An Officer in Arlington later located the vehicle and suspect, and a chase ensued. The suspect crashed and was arrested, transferred to the custody of Bellevue Police, and booked. Bellevue Police will be forwarding the following charges to the King County Prosecutor for consideration:

• Robbery in the First Degree (RCW 9A.56.200)
• Burglary in the First Degree (RCW 9A.52.020)
• Malicious Mischief in the First Degree (RCW 9A.48.070)
• Unlawful Possession of a Firearm in the Second Degree (RCW 9.41.040(2A))
• Theft of a Motor Vehicle (RCW 9A.56.065)

A male suspect was arrested this afternoon following a lengthy high speed chase through several eastside cities. On April 3rd at 3:26 p.m., Officers with the Bellevue Police Department downtown unit were on a proactive patrol in the parking lot of the Factoria Mall in Bellevue when they observed a vehicle that had been reported stolen. As Officers were attempting to contact the suspect, he intentionally rammed two police cars, causing one Officer minor injures. The suspect also rammed into occupied vehicles in the mall parking lot during his attempt to escape.

Due to the extreme danger to public safety that the suspect posed, a pursuit was authorized. The pursuit continued eastbound on I-90 through Bellevue, Issaquah, and into Snoqualmie, reaching speeds of over 100 mph, and Bellevue Police were assisted by Troopers with the Washington State Patrol, Issaquah Police Department, Snoqualmie Police Department, as well as King County Sheriff’s Guardian one helicopter.

The vehicle the suspect was driving was disabled with spike strips in Snoqualmie, and the suspect later abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot, eventually stealing a second vehicle. A second pursuit began, and the suspect continued to drive recklessly, at one point driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-90. The ground pursuit was terminated, and Guardian One continued to monitor the suspect from the air. The suspect later abandoned the vehicle and was taken into custody by a King County Sheriff K-9 Officer. Bellevue Officers took custody of the man, and Bellevue Police will be forwarding a litany of charges to the King County Prosecutor, including possession of a stolen vehicle, assault first degree, hit and run, and attempting to elude police.

Bellevue Police Detectives are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects responsible for stealing thousands of dollars of appliances and other items from homes under construction or for sale in Bellevue. Over the past two months, Bellevue Police have responded to eight burglaries involving similar circumstances: the suspects entered a vacant home under construction or for sale and stole several thousands of dollars worth of high-end appliances. Police have made one arrest, however, Detectives are now asking for the public’s assistance with identifying two additional suspects in this series.

Bellevue Police are releasing video surveillance from one recent buglary, and are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the suspects depicted. Anonymous tips can be sent to Crimestoppers, there is a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Bellevue Police remind homeowners to record the serial numbers, make, and model of valuable appliances and items in case of theft, and recommends the installation of security cameras and alarms at vacant residences.

On February 23, 2024, the Bellevue Police Department received an initial report from a concerned parent regarding inappropriate sexual behavior involving minors at a Bellevue gym. A police investigation into the incident occurred over the following weeks. The investigation revealed several alleged disturbing interactions between a 13-year-old juvenile suspect and a 9-year-old child, both of whom attended the Phoenix Gym for Judo training.

The Bellevue Police Department is appealing to the public for any information regarding this incident or others. If you believe you or someone you know may have been a victim of similar inappropriate behavior, we urge you to come forward and contact the Bellevue Police Department by dialing 9-1-1 or the NORCOM non-emergency line 425-577-5656. Victims may also contact Sgt. Brenda Johnson at: BJohnson@bellevuewa.gov.

It’s crucial to note that we are withholding the names of the juvenile individuals involved in this case as required by law and to maintain the integrity of the investigation. The Bellevue Police Department takes allegations of this nature very seriously and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all members of our community, especially our children.

For more information about sexual assault prevention and education resources, as well as tips for talking to your kids about safety and boundaries, please visit RAINN’s website.