Bellevue Police are investigating after two unrelated incidents last night.
First, at around 1:30 a.m., A Bellevue police officer attempted to stop a black Mercedes SUV that was driving recklessly in the Crossroads neighborhood. The vehicle failed to stop and the Officer did not pursue it. A short time later, residents in the area of the Lake Hills Shopping center in the 500 block of 156th Avenue SE reported hearing a large crash and noticed a strong odor of natural gas. Officers responded, along with Bellevue Fire, and located the vehicle, which had crashed into a building and was abandoned at the scene. The vehicle had struck a natural gas line. Approximately 100 residents were evacuated until PSE responded to turn off the gas line. Bellevue Police believe three suspects were in the vehicle, and the investigation is ongoing.
Then, at 4:43 a.m., Police received a call of an armed robbery at the Sunset Village apartment complex, located in the 12800 block of SE 40th Place. Officers responded and learned that the victim, an employee at a casino in Skyway, had returned home to Bellevue and was confronted by five armed suspects. The suspects forced their way into the victim’s apartment and stole several items at gunpoint. Police believe that the victim was followed home from the casino, following a pattern of similar past robberies in the region.
Bellevue Police do not believe that these two incidents are related.
Bellevue Beat Blog 