Bellevue Beat Blog

The Bellevue Police Department released the following update below about the traffic crash Friday evening which closed the intersection of NE 8^th Street and 116^th Ave NE:

At approximately 9:40 p.m. on Friday, May 2, Bellevue Police and Fire were dispatched to reports of a traffic crash at the intersection of NE 8^th Street and 116^th Ave NE. Initial reports from community members indicated a motorcyclist collided with another vehicle. Through a preliminary investigation, Bellevue Police was able to confirm the motorcyclist, an 18-year-old male, was traveling northbound on 116^th Ave NE at a high rate of speed. He then crashed into another vehicle that was heading westbound through the intersection.

Bellevue Fire attempted live-saving procedures for the motorcyclist, but the individual was pronounced dead at the scene. Additionally, the driver of the vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The intersection was closed during Bellevue Police’s initial investigation but has now been reopened to the public. The investigation into this crash is still ongoing. Any new information about the incident will be published via the Bellevue Beat Blog.

The Bellevue Police Department arrested a 52-year-old male on Monday following a road rage incident in which the suspect used racial slurs and pointed a firearm at a mother and two juveniles.

On Monday, April 28 at approximately 10:03 a.m., Bellevue Police was dispatched to multiple reports of a disturbance on the 3700 block of Factoria Boulevard SE. Officers learned upon arrival that three victims – a 35-year-old female and two juveniles – were hiding inside a local business with the male suspect, Kelly Bailey, standing outside possessing a firearm.

Bellevue Police quickly responded and detained the suspect. Officers interviewed the three victims, Mr. Bailey, and multiple witnesses following the incident. Officers also reviewed video footage and determined the following:

At 10:00 a.m., the 35-year-old victim (driver) and the suspect were involved in a near-miss crash at the intersection of Factoria Boulevard SE and SE 38^th Street.

According to interviews with the victims, Kelly Bailey proceeded to follow them to a nearby gas station and allegedly yelled racial slurs, withdrew his firearm from his holster, and made threats to kill the victims. The mother and juveniles exited the vehicle and fled into the gas station where one of the juveniles called 911. Multiple witnesses also called Bellevue Police and, through interviews with officers on scene, confirmed some of the information provided by the victims.

Kelly Bailey was arrested and booked in the King County Jail for the following crimes:

Harassment Threat to Kill, One Count

Hate Crime, One Count

Bellevue Police Chief Wendell Shirley expressed his gratitude for those community members who called 911, which allowed our officers to respond quickly, detain, and ultimately arrest the suspect.  

This is an ongoing investigation. Bellevue Police ask any community member who may have more information about this incident to contact law enforcement immediately. They can do so by calling the BPD non-emergency line at 425-577-5656 or emailing the department at bellevuepd@bellevuewa.gov.

If community members witness or experience a hate crime, Bellevue Police recommend they get to a safe place and report the incident by calling 911. They can also report crimes online at www.bellevuewa.gov/police.

The Bellevue Police Department is asking community members for help following a strong-arm robbery incident in the city’s Factoria neighborhood earlier this morning.

At approximately 10:00 a.m. on April 27, Bellevue Police were dispatched to the 3900 block of Factoria Square Mall SE to reports of a robbery. The victim, a 68-year-old woman, told officers two individuals driving in a gray SUV approached her and asked for directions. She complied with their request but refused to accept their cash when the suspects attempted to thank her. It was then when the suspects got angry and allegedly shoved the victim to the ground. The suspects also yanked a necklace from the victim’s neck before leaving the area.

The victim was treated at the scene by Bellevue Fire with non-life-threatening injuries and did not need to be transported to a hospital.

Bellevue Police are asking community members who may have been near the area at the time of the incident to contact law enforcement immediately. Any individual with information can call the department’s non-emergency line at 425-577-5656 or submit a tip at bellevuepd@bellevuewa.gov.

Additionally, Bellevue Police Department asks all community members – particularly older individuals – to use caution when being approached by strangers in vehicles and follow these simple prevention tips:

• Travel in groups
• Do not approach the vehicles
• Do not accept gifts from strangers
• Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings

Most of all, Bellevue Police asks residents to call 911 should they feel their safety or well-being is in jeopardy.

The Bellevue Police Department is asking community members to contact law enforcement after officers arrested a 43-year-old male suspect last week after he sexually assaulted a female juvenile during a rideshare exchange service.  

At approximately 4:45 a.m. on February 17, Bellevue Officers were dispatched to a possible sexual assault case on the 12100 block of SE 44^th Place. A female juvenile told law enforcement that while using ridesharing service to return home, the driver – Martin Njoki – convinced her to sit in the front seat of the vehicle for the ride. Njoki provided the juvenile with the service but then stopped a couple blocks shy of the juvenile’s home. That’s when the suspect allegedly made sexual advances on the juvenile and prevented her from escaping from the vehicle.  

Fortunately, the juvenile was able to get out of the vehicle and safely reach her home before contacting law enforcement. Bellevue Police arrested Martin Njoki for the following crimes:  

Unlawful Imprisonment, 1 Count (RCW 9A.40.040)   

Indecent Liberties, 1 Count (RCW 9A.44.100) 

Because of the circumstances surrounding the case, the Bellevue Police Department is also asking for the public’s help. Community members should contact law enforcement if they remember themselves or a friend/family member experiencing unwanted advances by Martin Njoki while having him as a ridesharing service driver. Njoki drove a Mitsubishi with the license plate number CBM2456. Potential victims can call 911 or the department’s non-emergency line at 425-577-5656.  

Sexual assault incidents while using ridesharing services are rare, but the crime does happen – including in cities like Bellevue. According to HelpingSurvivors.org, the ridesharing app Uber reported about 2,717 sexual assault incidents from 2021-2022. Community members can take these simple precautions to protect themselves from becoming a victim:  

April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Bellevue Police strongly urges any community member to contact law enforcement if they believe they’re a victim of a sexual assault crime. Residents can also go to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network’s website (RAINN) if they want to speak with someone confidentially or want to learn more about how they can help friends or family members who may be victims of sexual assault.   

Less than 6% of U.S. law enforcement agencies are accredited

The Bellevue Police Department has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Less than 6% of law enforcement agencies in the United States are accredited with CALEA, which requires agencies to certify for re-accreditation every four years.

“The Bellevue Police Department is once again honored to achieve CALEA accreditation for another four years,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of Police for the Bellevue Police Department. “This certification sends a message regionwide that officers and staff within this agency are the best in this field of work. They perform at the highest level and take great pride in keeping this community a safe place to live, work, and visit.”

Accreditation with CALEA, an independent credentialing authority, is known as the gold standard in public safety. For accreditation, departments must demonstrate they are setting a foundation to be a well-managed, transparent, and community-focused law enforcement agency.

The police department produced more than 470 examples of meeting CALEA standards and objectives required for accreditation, including Bellevue officers receiving required certifications prior to training other officers and timely dissemination of public information during emergency incidents. The agency also completes an internal audit of each of the department’s practices, the agency’s use-of-force standards, and its own process for handling internal investigations prior to each accreditation process.

The department was first certified by CALEA in 2005 and now retains accreditation through 2028, with annual compliance checks.

Five departments at the city – Police, Fire, Parks & Community Services, Transportation and Utilities – have been continually accredited by nationally recognized organizations for more than 10 years. 

The Bellevue Police Department is asking community members across the city today to exercise caution when participating in online market exchanges following the arrest of a suspect who conducted numerous theft and robbery crimes after targeting his victims online.  

According to police reports, 20-year-old A Blessing Jamalachi McDaniel (AKA “Malaki McDaniel”) would initiate contact with his victims via online marketplaces and then arrange a public location to meet. This is where the victims believed the transaction would be completed. However, McDaniel and/or his accomplices would often hold his victims at gunpoint, steal the items for sale, and flee the scene. These crimes were carried out across the region – including in cities like Bellevue, Edmonds, Federal Way, Kent, and Seattle. 

Below are some of the Bellevue-specific crimes Bellevue Police’s Investigations Division were able to confirm McDaniel recently committed:   

March 13, 6:40 p.m., 15600 block of NE 8^th Street: The victim, a 32-year-old male, attempted to sell four watches on an online marketplace website. The total value of the watches is estimated at $2,700. The victim agreed to complete the exchange at a Dick’s Restaurant. The victim became suspicious of McDaniel as the exchange began, and as the victim requested to cancel the sale, an accomplice to McDaniel pointed an assault rifle at the victim. McDaniel then drove away with the watches.  

March 2, 3:30 p.m., 1400 block of 156^th Avenue NE:  The victim, an adult male, attempted to sell his vehicle on an online marketplace website.  The victim agreed to sell his vehicle to McDaniel, who provided a stolen check for payment for the vehicle.   

February 27, 2:34 p.m., 16400 block of NE 24^th Street: Bellevue Police were dispatched to an incident involving the possible theft of a motor vehicle. The victim, a 23-year-old male, informed officers he placed his vehicle for sale on a social media website. McDaniel did not provide full payment and was able to gain possession of the vehicle. He then struck the victim with the vehicle while driving away.  

McDaniel is currently in custody at the King County Jail with $200,000 bond and charged with Robbery 1st degree and Theft of Motor Vehicle. Bellevue Detectives and Detectives with Snohomish County Violent Offender Task Force served a warrant at McDaniel’s residence in Bellevue on March 24th shortly after his arrest. Detectives recovered stolen jewelry, vehicle titles, and some of the unique clothing McDaniel wore during these crimes.  

Unfortunately, online incidents do consistently occur. The Bellevue Police Department asks community members to exercise caution when purchasing items off an online marketplace or simply meeting a stranger they only spoke with 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 family member with them to the exchange.   

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

The Bellevue Police Department arrested the suspect connected to Friday’s attempted kidnapping in the city’s Lake Hills neighborhood.  

On Monday morning at approximately 8:05 a.m., community members contacted Bellevue Police to report an individual matching the description of the suspect who was seen boarding a public transit bus near the same Lake Hills QFC location from Friday’s incident.  

Responding officers followed the bus until the suspect departed at the intersection of 116^th Avenue NE and NE 4^th Street. Officers arrested the individual and the investigation is ongoing.  

“I want to thank our community members and Bellevue Police’s investigators and officers for taking swift and immediate action to apprehend an individual who was a danger to this community,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of Police. “This collaboration continues to demonstrate how a strong partnership between law enforcement and residents can keep communities safe.”    

Bellevue Police continue to investigate Friday’s incident. However, community members should always call 911 should they ever feel like their or the community’s safety is in jeopardy.  

Bellevue police are asking for the public’s assistance with identifying a man suspected of an attempted kidnapping in the Lake Hills neighborhood of Bellevue Friday evening. Shortly after 4 p.m. on Friday, Bellevue Police responded to the parking lot of the Lake Hills QFC store located near the intersection of 145^th Place SE and SE 16^th Street for a reported attempted kidnapping. When police arrived, they learned that the victim, a 16-year-old girl, had been accosted by the suspect shortly after she exited a metro bus that the suspect had been riding on as well. A passerby was able to intervene and contact police. The suspect fled the scene, and police used a K-9 to attempt to locate the man, however he was not located.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male in his 30’s, and was last seen wearing a black puffy jacket, black pants, and grey shoes or boots. Bellevue Police are releasing surveillance images from the area of the incident and is asking the public to contact them if they recognize the man. If you recognize the suspect, please contact the Bellevue Police Department or you may leave an anonymous tip on crimestoppers.com.

BPD case #2025-00017132

The Bellevue Police Department launched an investigation into a Friday morning robbery incident that left the victim with injuries consistent with a stabbing. 

At approximately 5:14 a.m. this morning, law enforcement were dispatched to an ongoing disturbance occurring on the 5900 block of 119th Ave SE in the city’s Newport neighborhood. According to reports, three suspects met the victim, a 17-year old male, in a parking lot. A brief exchange occurred, and then one suspect allegedly assaulted the victim with a weapon. The subjects then fled the scene. 

The victim shared with first responders he met the suspects at the location of the incident. The juvenile was transported to Harborview Medical Center where he is being treated for these injuries. 

The location of the suspects are still unknown. Due to the nature of the incident, law enforcement do not believe the greater public’s safety is at risk. 

All community members are asked to contact the Bellevue Police Department at 425-577-5656 if they may have witnessed or have more information about this incident.

Bellevue Police’s Investigations Division immediately launched an investigation into this incident. Any new information will be published via the Bellevue Beat Blog. 

The Bellevue Police Department announced today the agency has opened an investigation following a drive-by shooting incident in the city’s downtown neighborhood.  

At approximately 8:43 p.m. on February 12, law enforcement responded to multiple reports of gun shots on the 9800 block of Lake Washington Boulevard NE near Meydenbauer Bay Park.  

No community members were injured during this incident, and there is no ongoing threat to the public.  

A description of a subject or vehicle connected to last night’s shooting are not available at this time. Any new information about this case will be published via the Bellevue Beat Blog.  

However, Bellevue Police ask anyone who may have additional information about this incident to contact law enforcement by calling 425-577-5656.