Author: bellevuepd

This week, the Bellevue Police Department invited residents and city stakeholders representing the city’s Asian community for “Protect Yourself: Learn How to Spot a Scam,” a conversation about how community members of all ages could take simple preventative measures to ensure they don’t fall victim to a high-dollar scam.  

Image from the Bellevue Police’s “Protect Yourself: Learn How to Spot a Scam” bilingual webinar held on Wednesday, October 8, 2025. 

The bilingual webinar was in response to the large public interest following a set of incidents where young people were threatened by scammers (posing as Chinese law enforcement) to wire large sums of money in order to prevent a future arrest from happening. These reported incidents dated back to December 2024, and some victims wired up to a million dollars before contacting Bellevue Police. The incidents prompted many Bellevue community members to ask law enforcement what preventative steps could be taken to protect themselves from becoming victims too.  

Any person who believes they may be a victim of a scam should report it immediately. They can do so by going to the FBI’s online tipline (https://www.ic3.gov/) or contacting Bellevue Police at 425-577-5656. 

“The best way to protect yourself would be to independently authenticate the individual you are speaking with as soon as possible,” said James Brack, Detective Sergeant for the Bellevue Police Department. “Even if it’s verifying a person’s place of employment, a simple verification through a verified source could reduce the chance that you will not become a victim of a scam.”  

Bellevue Police would like to remind community members that law enforcement will never make monetary demands in lieu of making an arrest. Police agencies, including the Bellevue Police Department, only enforce state and city laws. 

Bellevue Police’s Crime Prevention expert Ruby Daly gave this advice about how to spot a scam: “If it sounds too good to be true, think twice about it. Verify the company that’s contacted you before pursuing an opportunity that seems too good to be real.” 

Money scams are very common in Bellevue and across the nation. The Bellevue Police Department asks all of its community members to stay vigilant and look for these flags when approached by a stranger either online or by phone:   

1. They use social media to gain your trust  

2. They pretend to be from an organization that you know  

3. They say there’s a problem or a prize  

4. They pressure you to act immediately  

5. They tell you to pay in a specific way  

6. They tell you not to call police  

Earlier this year, Bellevue Police published the top five ways community members can spot a scam. The article can be found via the Bellevue Beat Blog.    

The Bellevue Police Department today announced the arrest of a 78-year-old male for possession of child sexual abuse material.  

At approximately 1:14 p.m. on Saturday, October 4, Bellevue Officers responded to a welfare check on the 4300 block of 151^st Ave SE. Law enforcement was initially unable to make contact with the subject after many attempts at the front door of the residence. However, as Officers made contact with the individual at the back entrance, they witnessed the subject displaying what appeared to be many images of child sexual abuse material on a desk.  

The suspect confirmed with Bellevue Police he possessed large quantities of explicit material both at his residence and at a storage facility. Officers immediately placed the subject, identified as Richard Rowlett, into custody, and he was booked in the King County Jail. The department also launched an investigation into this incident following Rowlett’s arrest.  

The Bellevue Police Department is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all members of our community – especially children. Bellevue Police are asking any community members who may have additional information about Richard Rowlett to contact the department using the non-emergency line 425-577-5656 or email at BellevuePD@bellevuewa.gov. Additionally, individuals are encouraged to contact police if they believe they are a victim or know someone who may be a victim related to this case.   

Any further information about this case will be published via the Bellevue Beat Blog.  

Community members can visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s website (RAINN) if they want to speak with someone confidentially or wish to learn more about how they can help friends or family members who may be victims of sexual assault. 

The Bellevue Police Department today announced it has opened an investigation into a reported sexual assault incident that occurred on Friday, September 26 at 11:42 p.m. on the 3200 block of 146th Place SE.

Any additional information will be released via the Bellevue Beat Blog.

The Bellevue Police Department today announced the arrest of 28-year-old Samuel Hitchcock, the individual connected to the homicide that occurred on Wednesday, July 30.  

In a joint effort with the United States Marshals Service and the Portland Police Bureau, regional partners arrested Hitchcock near a residential area in Portland. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center for the following crimes:  

Murder in the 1^st Degree (One Count) 

Robbery (One Count) 

The Bellevue Police Department would like to thank the U.S. Marshals Service, the Portland Police Bureau, the Seattle Police Department, and the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention for their assistance with this investigation. Bellevue Police would also like to thank community members from across the region and Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound for their assistance. The initial publication of the homicide announcement can be located here, and any additional information will be released via the Bellevue Beat Blog. 

“Prompt action by the Bellevue Police Department and regional law enforcement partners and assistance from the public no doubt led to Tuesday’s arrest of an individual who committed one of the most serious crimes imaginable,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of Police for the Bellevue Police Department. “This department takes all crime seriously, and our officers work tirelessly to hold individuals accountable for threatening the safety of this great community.”  

A 48-year-old suspect is in custody following an assault incident early Sunday morning.

At approximately 1:43 a.m., Bellevue Police were dispatched to reports of an assault on the 13800 block of Bel Red Road. Upon arrival, officers discovered a 56-year-old male victim on scene with wounds to the head.

According to initial police reports, the victim and suspect were closing down a restaurant they were both employed at. It was during this time where the suspect allegedly struck the victim in the head with a hammer.

The suspect fled the scene. Officers from neighboring agencies joined search efforts, and at approximately 2:11 a.m., law enforcement located the suspect close to the original scene and placed him under arrest for assault crimes.

Both the suspect and the victim were transported to Overlake Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. The suspect was then booked into the King County Jail.

The Bellevue Police Department immediately launched an investigation following the incident. Any new information will be published via the Bellevue Beat Blog.

Bellevue Police announced the arrest of a seventeen year-old male juvenile today for connections to a kidnapping and robbery incident from late spring.

On the morning of August 20, law enforcement executed a search warrant on the 18600 block of NE 55th Way in Redmond to arrest the juvenile who was believed to be involved in luring a seventeen year-old male victim to a Bellevue Park.

Police reports from the incident on May 22 indicated that once the victim arrived, he was confronted by the suspect who was wearing a ski mask and was armed with a handgun. The victim was forced into the backseat of his own vehicle and was driven around to various locations where the suspect attempted to use the victim’s credit cards to withdraw money. The suspects ultimately dumped the victim off in a rural part of North Bend.

The victim made his way to a nearby residence where a good Samaritan helped him contact the King County Sheriff’s Office to file the initial report. Bellevue Police were added to the case where an investigation of the incident immediately followed.

The investigation by the Bellevue Police Department as well as items found during the August 20 operation connected the suspect to the May incident. He was subsequently arrested for the following crimes:

Kidnapping, First Degree (One Count)

Robbery, First Degree (One Count)

The investigation into this incident is ongoing. Any new information will be published via the Bellevue Beat Blog.

Law enforcement asks community members to always exercise caution when meeting strangers they meet online. Individuals should meet the stranger at a public location and during a busy time of day where others could serve as a potential witness. Community members should also bring a friend or a family member with them.  

Should a person feel like their safety is at risk, they should always contact law enforcement by calling 911 when they are in a safe place to do so.   

At approximately 7:49 p.m. on August 15, Bellevue Police Officers were dispatched to a death report on the 3000 block of Landerholm Circle SE.

Upon arrival, law enforcement confirmed there was a body that appeared to have been deceased for several weeks in a nearby wooded area. Preliminary evidence at the scene suggested there were no signs of foul play.

The Bellevue Police Department immediately opened an investigation into this case, which is standard protocol for the agency. Any additional information will be made available via the Bellevue Beat Blog.

The Bellevue Police Department was pleased to welcome children’s YouTube star Blippi to the station for a new episode on the popular educational channel for kids.  

Titled “Blippi Meets Police Heroes & Their K9 Dog!,” the latest Blippi episode offers the host and his 25.5 million subscribers a look at some of the tools officers use every day to keep Bellevue a safe place to live, work, and visit for everyone. This includes a brief jiujitsu demonstration and tours of a police car and a motorcycle. Viewers even get to meet Kole, one of the three K9s within the department.  

“It was a pleasure to welcome Blippi to the Bellevue Police Department, because this agency takes great pride showing community members of all ages how officers keep this city safe,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of Police for the Bellevue Police Department.  

The Bellevue Police Department brings the Prevention, Intervention, and Enforcement (P.I.E.) philosophy to its public safety mission for the community. In addition to the new Blippi episode, the agency has recently deployed many community-focused opportunities that address the “prevention” aspects of law enforcement, including its annual summer youth camps for middle and high school students and the National Night Out celebration.  

Filming for the episode took place in mid-May, and as of this publication, the 10-minute segment has generated more than 159,000 views since its premiere on August 9.  

At approximately 12:31 a.m. on Friday, August 8, an on-duty Bellevue Police Officer was involved in an officer-involved shooting on the 15800 block of Northup Way.

No officers or other community members were injured. The King County Independent Force Investigation Team (KC-IFIT) has been called out to investigate this incident.

Additional information will be provided by KC-IFIT for the remainder of the investigation.

The Bellevue Police Department is asking community members to stay vigilant and be on the lookout for Samuel Hitchcock, a 28-year-old male who is connected to a homicide incident that occurred on Wednesday, July 30.

If community members see Samuel Hitchcock, they are asked to not approach him and call 911 right away. Community members can also call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or use their P3 Tips app. Hitchcock is unhoused and may not be in Bellevue.

At approximately 7:23 a.m. on Wednesday, Bellevue Police were dispatched to a call regarding a possible death report on the 13800 block of SE Eastgate Way. Officers arrived on scene and found the body of a 54-year-old man next to a facility building. Bellevue Fire pronounced the man dead at the scene.

Evidence collected during Bellevue Police’s preliminary investigation concluded a homicide incident occurred.

The investigation into Wednesday’s incident is ongoing. Any additional information will be released via the Bellevue Beat Blog.