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.

The Bellevue Police Department announced overall crime in the city for the first half of the year continued its downward trend compared to last year – matching regional trends throughout the Puget Sound area.  

Using crime data provided by the agency’s Crime Analysis Unit, the department’s mid-year analysis found that overall crimes in Bellevue are down 25%, with 2,991 incidents occurring this year compared to 4,009 in 2024. Additionally, property crimes – incidents such as robbery, burglaries, thefts, and fraud – are down 31% (2,333 cases in 2025 vs. 3,397 cases in 2024) and society crimes – incidents like drug violations and weapons violations – are down 11% (96 cases in 2025 vs. 108 cases in 2024). Persons crimes – incidents involving assault or violation of protection orders, for instance – saw a 12% increase (562 cases in 2025 vs. 504 cases in 2024). This was related to an increase in domestic violence incidents and individuals violating protection orders across the city.  

“No city is immune to crime, not even Bellevue. But in Bellevue, we prioritize strong partnerships and trust built between community members, the city’s business community, and our officers. These relationships help Bellevue Police solve crimes quickly and hold individuals accountable for threatening the safety of this community,” said Wendell Shirley, Bellevue Police Chief.  

The definitions of crimes above – Persons Crimes, Property Crimes, Society Crimes – are categorized by the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) tracking system for crimes across the United States. The data provided in this blog post is publicly available and can be found on the Bellevue Police Department’s public transparency dashboard located on the department’s city website.  

The Bellevue Police Department is committed to deploying strategies to hold criminals accountable for threatening Bellevue’s safe and welcoming reputation. Bellevue Police urges any community member or visitor to always stay vigilant and practice simple preventative measures to protect themselves from being a victim. And any community member should contact law enforcement if they see something suspicious or feel like their safety or the community’s well-being may be at risk.   

The Bellevue Police Department issued the following updates regarding the shooting incident from July 22 on the 400 block of 120^th Ave NE in downtown Bellevue: 

1. Prior to the incident, a 31-year-old male and a 52-year-old male engaged in a brief altercation at a nearby business parking lot. This disturbance led to the shooting incident nearby.  

2. Following the incident, the 52-year-old male subject who fired the shots remained on scene and cooperated with law enforcement for interviews about the incident.  

3. Following the initial investigation, which included multiple witness interviews, and in consultation with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (KCPAO), the 52-year-old man was released pending further investigation. Charges could be filed at a later date.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing, and Bellevue Police will continue to work with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office throughout the duration of this case. Any new information about the investigation will be published via the Bellevue Beat Blog.  

A middle-aged man is in critical conditional following a shooting in Bellevue’s downtown neighborhood.

At approximately 4:45 p.m., Bellevue Police were dispatched to multiple reports of gunshots fired on the 400 block of 120^th Ave NE. Officers arrived on scene within minutes and were able to identify and arrest the suspect.

Bellevue Police determined a conflict began between two middle-aged men near the parking lot of an area business. This is when the suspect fired shots at the victim, who was driving a white pickup truck. The victim experienced life-threatening injuries and was transported to Harborview Medical Center in critical condition.

Law enforcement believe this incident was not random and that the shooting resulted in the conflict between the two men.

This is an ongoing investigation. Any new information will be updated on the Bellevue Beat Blog.