Bellevue Police Seek Assistance Locating Prolific Thieves UPDATE: ARRESTED

UPDATE: An observant citizen recognized Pederson and Thompson from news reports while at a restaurant in Everett last night. The citizen contacted authorities, and the suspects were arrested by Snohomish County Sheriff deputies. The stolen Dodge Neon was also recovered. Pederson and Thompson were both booked into the King County Jail for felony organized retail theft.

Original post: The Bellevue Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance with locating a duo suspected in a series of thefts of expensive vitamins. Since November 2017, 39 year-old Justin Pederson 37 year-old Anita Thompson are suspected of stealing over $20,000 worth of vitamins in a crime spree spanning the entire region.

vitamin
Justin Pederson and Anita Thompson are suspected of stealing over $20,000 worth of merchandise from area grocery stores.

The two are suspected of targeting stores across the area, to include Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, Redmond, Seattle, Mercer Island, Mountlake Terrace, Tacoma, and Vancouver. Their strategy is to enter a grocery store and then place a large amount of expensive vitamins in a reusable bag and then walk out the front door.

“These types of organized retail thefts raise prices for everyone else, so we need to get these prolific thieves located and in custody”, said Officer Seth Tyler with the Bellevue Police Department.

vitamin
The suspects may be driving a stolen Dodge Neon with Washington License ASC2943.

Pederson and Thompson may be driving a stolen Dodge Neon with Washington License #ASC2943. Anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Pederson or Thompson may submit an anonymous tip to CrimeStoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS or by submitting a tip online. Submitting a tip to Crime Stoppers is anonymous and you’ll get a cash reward of up to $1,000 if your information leads to an arrest.

Bellevue Police Investigating Early Morning Shooting

This morning at 12:44 a.m., Bellevue police responded to the area of the Red Lion Hotel located at 11211 Main Street for a report of several gunshots. At the same time, Overlake Hospital staff reported that a man was dropped off at the emergency room with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. Police determined that the two incidents were indeed related. Officers located several shell casings in the parking lot of the hotel, and are in the process of sorting out what happened. The man that was shot, a 22 year-old Wenatchee resident, was interviewed by Detectives and is expected to survive. No further information is available at this time, and the investigation is ongoing.

Bellevue Teen Recognized For Lifesaving Efforts

UPDATE 03/22/2018: Jonathan Tyshler was recognized for his part in saving his grandfather’s life today at an assembly at Odle Middle School. Jonathan was presented with a certificate from the California Highway Patrol by Bellevue Police school resource officer Jeff Borsheim.

Original post: A Bellevue High School student was recognized today for his heroic efforts on the side of a California freeway in 2016. On August 16, 2016, 13 year-old Daniel Tyshler was riding in a vehicle on the I-405 freeway in southern California with his 11 year-old brother Jonathan and their grandparents. Daniel and his brother were on vacation. Suddenly, and without warning, Daniel’s grandfather suffered a cardiac arrest while driving. The car veered across five lanes of traffic, narrowly missed a guardrail, and came to a stop in a grove of trees on the side of the freeway.

img_5815.jpg
Daniel Tyshler (center) was recognized by the California Highway Patrol for saving the life of his grandfather Boris Govzman (right) after he had a cardiac arrest while driving.

Daniel and his brother quickly went into action. Daniel immediately called 911, and then coached his frantic grandmother on how to turn off the engine and unlock the doors of the vehicle. Then, with the help of a citizen that had stopped, Daniel and Jonathan removed his unconscious grandfather from the vehicle and immediately began administering lifesaving CPR until first responders arrived at the scene. Responders were able to locate a pulse, and Daniel’s grandfather was transported to the hospital and made a full recovery.

img_5812.jpg
Officer Borsheim presented Daniel Tyshler with the lifesaving award at a school assembly today.

Today at a student assembly at Bellevue High School, Daniel was recognized by the California Highway Patrol with a certificate of recognition for performing lifesaving medical aid. The award was presented by Bellevue Police School Resource Officer Jeff Borsheim. In the award, CHP Captain Shackleford stated: “You are being commended for your swift action, calm demeanor, and poise under pressure while saving a life.” Shackleford continued: “It takes a very special kind of person to act in the face of adversity, congratulations.”

Bellevue Police Investigate Fatal Crash Involving Pedestrian

This morning at 10:48 a.m., Bellevue Police and Fire departments responded to the 1300 block of 120th Avenue NE for a report of a pedestrian that had been struck by a vehicle. When officials arrived, they located a street sweeper truck on the east side of 120th Avenue NE, and a deceased person underneath the vehicle. Early information indicates that the sweeper truck, which was being operated by a private contractor and was involved in construction activity at an apartment complex on the east side of the roadway, was backing up in a closed lane of 120th Avenue when the collision occurred. The driver of the sweeper truck is cooperating with the investigation, and no impairment is suspected on the part of the truck driver. The pedestrian is a 44 year-old male and a is a resident of Bellevue. Identification will be made by the King County Medical Examiner once the victim’s next of kin has been notified. (BPD case #18-9944)

Bellevue Police Make Arrest in Gun Store Burglary, Investigation Continues

Yesterday morning at 5:00 a.m., Bellevue Police investigators, assisted by members of the Bellevue Police SWAT team, arrested a suspect in connection with a December 26th burglary of a Bellevue gun store. The suspect, a 17 year-old juvenile male who resides in Kent, WA, is also suspected in at least two other similar burglaries in the area.

On December 26th, three suspects used a stolen vehicle to ram through the front doors of the West Coast Armory in Bellevue. The suspects stole 72 firearms and one silencer. Investigators learned that the suspects were wearing the same clothing as the suspects in the burglary of a marijuana store in Bothell on December 13th in which a stolen vehicle was also used to ram through the doors of the business. Armed with this connection, as well as other additional evidence, investigators were able to locate the suspect, who was the passenger in a stolen vehicle being driven in Auburn. When the suspect was arrested, the vehicle he was found in had the same license plates as whose that were seen on the stolen vehicle used in the Bothell marijuana store Robbery. A stolen handgun was found at the suspect’s feet when he was arrested. That handgun had been stolen from Renton in a separate theft.

The suspect was booked into King County juvenile detention for investigation of burglary in the second degree, theft of a firearm, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle, and possession of MDMA with intent to deliver. The other four occupants of the vehicle were also arrested for possession of a stolen vehicle, however they are not believed to be involved in the Bellevue burglary case. The investigation in this case continues, and additional arrests are possible in the future.