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.
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