Bellevue Police Arrest Two Following Street Robbery

Yesterday, investigators with the Bellevue Police Department arrested two suspects that were being sought in connection with a violent street robbery that occurred in Bellevue last month.

On the evening of January 1st, Bellevue Police responded to a report of a robbery in downtown Bellevue near the intersection of NE 4th Street and 108th Avenue NE. Officers contacted the three female victims, who reported that they had just been violently robbed while they were walking down the sidewalk. The victims, two Japanese foreign exchange students and one resident of Japan who was in Bellevue on vacation, said that they were walking on NE 4th Street when they noticed several males were following them. The victims stated that, without warning, the suspects attacked them from behind, pushed them to the ground, and attempted to steal their purses. Two of the victims were violently dragged several feet down the sidewalk by the suspects’ attempts to steal their purses. The suspects stole two of the victims’ purses and ripped a necklace off of the neck of the third victims. The victims received minor injuries as a result of being dragged down the sidewalk, and were treated at the scene by medics.

Detectives with the Bellevue Police Major Crimes unit, working with the Special Operations Group, identified two suspects. Those two suspects were arrested yesterday without incidents. The suspects, a 20-year-old Renton resident and an 18-year-old Auburn resident, were booked into the King County Jail for investigation of robbery, and are expected to be charged in King County Superior Court. One of the suspects is believed to have been involved in at least one additional robbery that occurred in Seattle in January.

Bellevue Police End Violent Crime Spree

A violent crime spree committed by a group of armed suspects was brought to an end last night by the Bellevue Police Department.

Last night shortly after 8 p.m., Bellevue Police Officers responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Union76 gas station located at 2421 148th Ave NE. An employee at the station reported that he had just been robbed at gunpoint by three masked suspects. The suspects left the area before police arrived.

While Officers were investigating the first robbery, a second 911 call was received at 8:40 p.m. from an employee of the Shell gas station located at 11 148th Ave SE. The employee reported that three masked suspects were inside the store and were holding an employee at gunpoint. Two Bellevue Police Officers were a short distance from the second robbery and arrived within seconds. The three suspects ran out of the store just as Officers were arriving. Officers caught one suspect, a 16-year-old male Auburn resident, a short distance away and took him into custody.

Additional Officers responded to the area, including Bellevue Police K-9 Officer Lange and his partner Ghost. After a K-9 track, Ghost successfully located and apprehended a second suspect in a nearby greenbelt at 9:08 p.m.. That suspect, a 16-year-old male resident of Tacoma, was taken into custody by Officers and treated for a K-9 bite. The third suspect was not located and Bellevue Detectives will be working to determine the identity of that person.

cygsoo6d
K-9 Officer Ryan Lange and his partner Ghost apprehended a robbery suspect in Bellevue last night.

Investigating Officers located a white Toyota RAV-4 parked across the street from the location of the second Bellevue Robbery. Investigators learned that the vehicle had been stolen earlier that day in a carjacking that had occurred in Burien. Investigators learned that during the carjacking there was a shootout between the owner of the vehicle and the suspects. Bellevue Police impounded the vehicle as a part of their investigation, and the vehicle is no longer being sought by police.

Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett, in speaking about this investigation, stated: “I could not be more proud of my Officers for their hard work in taking these dangerous suspects into custody without any injuries to Officers, the suspects, or members of the public. It is very fortunate that no one was seriously injured during the suspects’ daylong crime spree.”

Registration for Spring 2019 Community Police Academy is Now Open

Today, the Bellevue Police opened online registration for the spring community police academy. The Community Academy is a 12-week program for Bellevue residents and those who work in Bellevue to become acquainted with how their police department operates. On completion of the academy, graduates will have gained a better understanding of the law enforcement role in the criminal justice system, and an appreciation for the many challenges facing law enforcement in today’s complex society.

Community academytw.jpg
Training Officer Raphael Park instructs at the Community Police Academy

The Community Academy is a primarily classroom-based, with hands-on lessons about law enforcement about patrol procedures, firearms, 911 communications, narcotics, K-9, major crimes investigations, major accident investigations, defensive tactics and hostage negotiations.

The spring 2019 community academy begins on March 7th, and takes place every Thursday evening from 7-10 p.m. until May 23rd. Registration is now open, click here to apply.