Bellevue Beat Blog

Bellevue Police are asking the public to stay vigilant following an armed robbery late Sunday evening in Bellevue’s Crossroads neighborhood.

At approximately 11:53 p.m., officers received a call of a reported armed robbery at a gas station located on the 16200 block of NE 8^th Street near Crossroads Park. The victim – a 31-year-old male – told police two male suspects ranging from 18-24 years old entered the station wearing all black and black ski masks – propping the entrance ajar with a bike. The suspects then produced a black firearm during the robbery.

According to the store manager, the suspect holding the firearm allegedly struck one of the three store patrons present at the time of the robbery and directed them to the corner of the store. The suspect with the gun then jumped across the counter and allegedly demanded money from the cash registers.

The store manager allowed the suspects to gain entry and take the cash from inside the store’s registers. Additionally, the suspects allegedly stole money from the three victims present at the gas station. The entire armed robbery lasted approximately one minute. The suspects left the gas station and fled westbound on NE 8^th Street.

The victim waited approximately 10 minutes to call law enforcement due to the stress of the incident. Bellevue Fire Department was dispatched to the scene to evaluate the victim for experiencing chest pains.

Bellevue Police launched an investigation into Sunday evening’s armed robbery incident and believe the suspects drove off in a silver Toyota sedan. A records check of the vehicle indicated it was reported stolen after an alleged carjacking in Seattle. The suspects may also be connected to multiple robbery incidents that occurred throughout the Puget Sound region from Sunday evening and through Monday morning.

Any resident or individual with information about Sunday evening’s armed robbery in Bellevue or other regional robberies from September 28-29 are urged to contact law enforcement. And should an individual become a victim of an armed robbery, Bellevue Police ask residents to always obey the suspect’s demands, put your life before your possessions, and call police the moment it is safe to do so.

A 21-year-old male suspect was arrested for assaulting a Bellevue Police officer and driving under the influence in the city’s Crossroads neighborhood Wednesday morning.

At approximately 6:14 a.m., a concerned resident notified law enforcement of a male subject who was slumped over the wheel of a 2016 silver Hyundai sedan on the intersection of 148^th Avenue NE and Bel-Red Road.

Officers arrived at the scene shortly after the call and confirmed the subject was passed out in the drivers’ seat and saw that the vehicle was vehicle running and in “drive.” Officers also noticed the ignition had been removed and the lock on the driver’s door had been punched.

Additionally, officers discovered the subject was in possession of various tools that could be used to conduct additional theft and burglary crimes. These tools were in the center console of the vehicle.

Bellevue Police developed probable cause and made the decision to arrest the man for driving under the influence and possible motor vehicle theft. As a precautionary measure and before officers attempted to make an arrest, two marked police vehicles were maneuvered in front of and behind the vehicle.

The suspect quickly began to resist arrest the moment the officers woke him up, which created concern the suspect could gain control of the vehicle, ram the vehicles enough to leave the scene, and jeopardize the safety of the community. This concern prompted law enforcement to call for additional units and deploy the use of tasers during the arrest.

An officer sustained a broken finger during the incident, which occurred while the suspect was resisting arrest. Both the suspect and the officer received treatment at Overlake Medical Center.

The suspect was arrested for the following crimes:

Driving Under the Influence, One Count

Assault of a Police Officer, One Count

Resisting Arrest, One Count

Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, One Count

Possession of Burglary Tools, One Count

Ignition Interlock Violation, One Count

Possession of Stolen Mail, One Count

Driving while suspended, One Count

Bellevue Police were also notified the suspect may have allegedly been involved in an incident in Redmond prior to Wednesday morning’s incident. For that case, the suspect fled Redmond Police in a stolen Hyundai Elantra, which was recovered in the same apartment complex that the vehicle involved in the Bellevue incident was stolen from. Because of this information, as well as evidence located in the vehicle by Bellevue Police, police believe the same suspect was involved in both incidents. Additionally, Bellevue Police recovered suspected stolen mail from at least 29 victims in Bellevue and Redmond.

The suspect was processed and later booked into the King County Jail for the above listed charges. Any new information will be released via the Bellevue Beat Blog.

The jewelry theft incidents from this summer appear to be back in Bellevue, and Bellevue Police are asking residents to stay vigilant and exercise caution when communicating with strangers.

Three separate incidents occurred between approximately 2:30-3:40 p.m. on Tuesday, September 17. Victims said the three female suspects traveling in either a red or gray sedan or a gray SUV approached them, struck up a conversation, and allegedly stole their jewelry from their necks or arms in the process. One victim was targeted while picking up a child from school and another was forcibly held down during the crime.

Synopsis of each crime on September 17 are as follows:

Approximately 2:45 p.m.: On the intersection of NE 13^th Place and 156^th Avenue NE, a female victim told law enforcement a suspect deftly removed her gold necklace while she was waiting at a school bus stop. The victim only realized the jewelry was missing after the suspect left the scene in a gray sport utility vehicle.

Approximately 3:15 p.m.: On the intersection of 165^th Place NE and NE 30^th Street, a female victim told police that while on a walk, three female suspects in a gray sedan pulled up to her and demanded jewelry. She did not possess any and the subjects drove away.

Approximately 3:40 p.m.: On the intersection of 148^th Ave NE and NE 57^th Street, a female victim was strong armed by three suspects. Two suspects held her from behind while the third suspect stole the jewelry from her. They left the scene in a red sedan. About 5-7 necklaces were stolen from the victim.

Victims from all three incidents did not sustain any serious physical injuries. However, the Bellevue Police Department asks all residents to use caution when being approached by strangers in vehicles and follow simple guidelines that parents often share with their young children:

1. Travel in groups
2. Do not approach the vehicles
3. Use caution when talking with a stranger
4. Provide distance between a stranger and you during a conversation
5. Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings

If an individual becomes a victim of an incident similar to this, Bellevue Police ask they immediately call law enforcement when it is safe to do so. And, residents should always call law enforcement if they feel like their safety is at risk.

Bellevue Police are reminding residents to take simple safety precautions in their homes following an arrest Tuesday morning where the suspect forcibly entered victims’ home and performed a sex act over them as they slept.  

Law enforcement were dispatched to a burglary in progress at approximately 5:45 a.m. early Tuesday morning on the 14100 block of SE 14^th Place in Bellevue. Officers arrived at the residence where four female victims between the ages of 18 and 21 lived.  

According to one of the victims, she briefly exited the apartment at about 4:30 a.m. leaving the front door to the apartment unlocked. That’s when the suspect – a 30-year-old male – allegedly forced his way into the victims’ apartment.  

The other victims shared with law enforcement the suspect entered the apartment and allegedly awoke one of the victims by shaking her and masturbating over her. While no sexual contact was made, the sex act was enough to scare the victim and cause her to run into the bedroom of the other victims.  

One of the victims demanded the suspect leave the apartment, however, the suspect allegedly threatened her with his fist – causing the roommates to hide inside of one of the bedrooms. It was then when the suspect proceeded to drink beverages from the victims’ fridge, use the restroom, and smoke cigarettes on the back patio before falling asleep on one of the victim’s beds.  

Once asleep, the victims immediately called law enforcement where Bellevue Officers arrived and placed the suspect under arrest without incident. He was booked in the King County Jail.  

The suspect was arrested for the following crimes:  

Indecent Exposure, One Count 

Residential Burglary, One Count 

The Bellevue Police Department reminds all residents to take a set of simple safety precautions every day while they are in their homes or before they leave their residence:  

1) Lock all doors in the house, 

2) Shut and lock all windows that are not in use, 

3) Shut and lock all windows each night, 

4) Shut and lock the door connected between a garage and home, and  

5) Arm the home’s security system 

Even if a person is running a small errand, taking these simple precautions could end up saving their life.  

If an individual feels their safety is threatened at any time, they are strongly urged to contact Bellevue Police by dialing 911.   

At approximately 8:33 p.m. on September 16, Bellevue Police were dispatched to an apartment complex on the 4700 block of 148^th Avenue NE after multiple residents heard gun shots around their neighborhood.

Law enforcement collected multiple shell casings from the scene and one live round, including two bullets which entered one apartment unit. There were no injuries during the incident, and the investigation into this case is still ongoing.

Bellevue Police urge anyone who may have additional information about this shooting to contact law enforcement at 425-577-5656 or bellevuepd@bellevuewa.gov.

The Bellevue Police Department responded to a pair of incidents occurring on Friday, September 13. 

At approximately 10:53 p.m., law enforcement were dispatched to a shooting incident on the 2500 block of 124th Place NE. Reports indicated that several residents reported hearing gunshots. Responding officers canvassed the neighborhood and found about a half dozen shell casings outside of a residence, and Officers also noticed bullet holes on the first-level of the home. A 17-year-old juvenile was present at the home at the time of the shooting.

Bellevue detectives are conducting a further investigation of this case, but law enforcement are confident the shooting was not a random act of violence and residents of the neighborhood are not in any danger following the incident.

Also, at approximately 11:31 p.m. that evening, Bellevue Officers responded to an alleged carjacking incident that occurred on the 15500 block of NE 18th Street. 

According to reports, the victim – a 19-year-old, Spanish speaking female – pulled her gray Audi A4 over to help her puppy use the bathroom on the southwest corner of an apartment complex. The victim told police she noticed a male approaching her vehicle, and then he allegedly pointed a firearm at her. Speaking in Spanish, the suspect then allegedly threatened to kill her if she didn’t give him the car. The victim promptly exited the sedan and hid from the suspect until he drove away exiting the apartment complex onto 156th Avenue NE. 

The victim advised law enforcement the suspect had an American dialect with his Spanish, blue eyes, and was wearing a facemask covering his face. Additionally, the suspect was wearing a black rain jacket and black pants. The victim was unable to provide police the license plate number to her vehicle, but stated it was newly purchased with temporary plates posted in the windshield of the sedan. 

Bellevue Police ask residents that if they see an Audi A4 with temporary plates taped on the front and back windshields of the vehicle to contact law enforcement immediately at 425-577-5656 as it may be the vehicle connected to this carjacking. 

Additionally, law enforcement urge residents to always put their lives ahead of their possessions in case they encounter a life-threatening situation. 

A 42-year-old male suspect was arrested on Monday after Bellevue Police’s Special Operations Group, working closely with the King County Prosecutor’s Special Operations Unit and analysts with King County Sheriff’s Office, determined he burglarized multiple homes while victims were asleep inside.

At approximately 7:30 a.m. on September 3, Bellevue officers were dispatched to a residential burglary on the 12200 block of SE 65^th Street in the city’s Newport Hills neighborhood. The victims – a 68-year-old male and a 63-year-old female – told police they woke up in the morning to discover numerous items in their home had been stolen, their hand truck in their garage had been moved, and the door connecting to the garage was left open. Stolen items included a floor safe containing five firearms – including four semi-automatic pistols and a revolver.

Additionally, the victims discovered their minivan left in the driveway was also broken into. The suspects allegedly stole the female victim’s pocketbook containing her Washington driver’s license and debit and credit cards. The victims also informed detectives they received a fraudulent purchase notification at a Safeway store in Federal Way at about 5:30 a.m. that morning.

Thanks to the help of the victims’ neighbors, Bellevue Police obtained security footage and identified a gray-colored coupe entering and leaving SE 65th Street at approximately 1:30 a.m. that morning. Law enforcement also retrieved the Safeway’s surveillance footage, which showed a male suspect attempting to use victim’s stolen debit card. Additionally, the security footage showed the suspect used a different vehicle (a red-colored Dodge Caravan with a temporary license plate) than during the earlier incident. 

Detectives were able to confirm the minivan at the Safeway incident was registered to a female person-of-interest, Sanders’s girlfriend. A search of this individual helped detectives discover she was involved in a vehicle prowl case in Kirkland from May 7, 2024. Security footage from that case identified both the female person-of-interest and an additional male suspect fleeing the area in a GMC SUV. The SUV was registered to the male suspect, Kelly Sanders. Bellevue detectives confirmed Sanders as the male suspect in the May case and placed Sanders at the Safeway incident on September 3.

A criminal history search of Kelly Sanders found he had eleven prior felony convictions – including for burglary. According to state law, Sanders’s felony convictions make it illegal for him to lawfully possess firearms.

Police were also able to discover the suspect’s cell phone number, and through a phone call search, were able to find Kelly Sanders completed two calls with the female suspect from the May 7 case at the King County Jail. Those phone conversations revealed the male suspect was in possession of the Dodge minivan and a silver Mercedes coupe.

Detectives then matched the silver Mercedes in Kelly’s possession to the burglary incident on September 3. Law enforcement also placed the suspect’s location at residence and the Federal Way Safeway during the times of both incidents.

Bellevue Police developed probable cause to arrest Kelly Sanders for Residential burglary, Theft of a Firearm, Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, and Identity theft. In coordination with the Kent Police Department, officers arrested Sanders in Kent at approximately 11:55 a.m. on September 9. A search of Sanders’s possessions led to Bellevue Police recovering numerous credit and debit cards connected to many individuals – including the victims from the September 3 case – and a firearm.

An additional investigation by Bellevue Police also connected Sanders to two additional nighttime residential burglaries in Mercer Island and Renton. For both incidents, Sanders allegedly committed these burglaries by accessing unlocked vehicles and using garage door openers to open the garage doors. Sanders used the Dodge minivan to commit the Mercer Island burglary and the Mercedes coupe to commit the Renton burglary.

Kelly Sanders was arrested for the following crimes:

One Count: Residential burglary

One Count: Identity theft – Second degree

Five Counts: Unlawful possession of a firearm – First degree

Five Counts: Theft of a firearm

The Bellevue Police Department urges residents to practice proactive measures that could potentially lower the risk of theft and burglary crimes. Locking the door between a garage door and a residence, locking a vehicle both inside a garage and in a driveway, storing a garage door remote outside of a vehicle after use, and removing belongings from a vehicle can be the preventative measures to reduce the risk of residents experiencing these crimes. Should a crime occur, residents should always contact Bellevue Police as soon as possible. 

Bellevue Police Officer Kevin Bereta returned to work with the department on August 30 after spending over a year on medical leave following a life-threatening motorcycle crash on August 15, 2023.

Officer Bereta returned to light-duty work this week including assisting with background investigations for prospective new hires and supporting the Bellevue Police Department Wellness Program.

“Kevin Bereta’s determination and commitment during his road to recovery has been truly an inspiring moment for the Bellevue Police Department and the entire community,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of the Bellevue Police Department. “I want to thank the city’s leadership and City Council for their ongoing commitment to the work of the department and for finding solutions to ensure the best possible support for employees seriously injured on the job. We are very pleased to see Kevin back for some modified duty. Welcome back, Kevin!”

“This year has been incredibly difficult for my family and me, but it would have been unmanageable without the love and support of my friends at the Bellevue Police Department. They have been there for me and my family without hesitation, and my family and I have overcome something I would not wish on anyone. No words can describe the feeling I have returning to the job and people that I love,” said Officer Kevin Bereta. “I would also like to thank someone for being in my corner throughout this time. He was there at my bedside when I was first injured and left me a card which stated, ‘Call me anytime if you need anything.’ I made that phone call, and he was right there for me. Thank you, Councilmember Jared Nieuwenhuis, for stepping up and supporting me through this difficult time.”

Bereta made physical therapy and recovery his top priority in the days and months following the incident. Additionally, Bellevue Officers and the entire Bellevue Police Department rallied behind Kevin and provided the support he needed during this process – including frequent check-ins in person or via text or phone calls, meal deliveries for Kevin and his family, accommodations for Kevin’s recovery, and other services provided by the department’s wellness program.

Last year, Officer Bereta joined several regional motor officers to serve as the dignitary escort for Vice President Kamala Harris’s visit to the Puget Sound region. While traveling on an I-5 on-ramp, Bereta hit a guardrail with his motorcycle – ejecting him over his handlebars, off the side of the overpass, and onto oncoming vehicular traffic on southbound I-5. Officer Bereta sustained serious injuries to his back, leg, and arm in the 50-foot fall.

Thanks to the immediate action of Bellevue PD Motor Sergeant Michael Shovlin and a member of the public, Bereta was quickly attended to and transported to Harborview Medical Center where he received life-saving care for his injuries. Kevin spent more than a week in the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit before being discharged.

Officer Bereta was later awarded the Bellevue Police Department’s Blue Star Medal Award. Recipients of this award must be sworn department employees who made the ultimate sacrifice while in the line of duty, were seriously injured while performing police duties, or were saved from serious injury or death after being shot in the line of duty. Bereta was honored with this distinguishment during the department’s 2024 Awards and Promotions Ceremony on July 11, 2024.

A littering incident at a Taco Bell led Bellevue Police to investigate, arrest, and charge family members for crimes ranging from Assault, Residential burglary, Identity theft, Unlawful possession of firearms, and Theft of motor vehicle. 

At approximately 6:42 p.m. on August 10, Bellevue Officers were dispatched to a call of an alleged assault that occurred at the Factoria Taco Bell on the 3500 block of Factoria Boulevard SE. According to reports, a security guard confronted eighteen-year-old Davis Bateman for littering out the side of his tan Honda sedan. It was then when Bateman threatened the security guard with a firearm before fleeing the scene. The victim relayed Bateman’s license plate to Bellevue Police, and Officers developed probable cause for arrest.

Bellevue Special Operations Group detectives and Bellevue S.W.A.T. officers served a search warrant for the arrest on August 15 at approximately 6:00 a.m. in the 2600 block of NE 10^th Street in Renton. This was Bateman’s residence, where he lived with his mother Crystal Moniz. S.W.A.T. officers placed Davis Bateman under arrest for Assault.  His mother and her boyfriend, Daniel Bateman, were also present inside the apartment. During the search, Detectives found body armor, a semi-automatic pistol, and a stolen AK-47 assault rifle.

Additionally, Detectives found credit and debit cards, passports, and personal documents which they later determined were stolen during residential burglaries that occurred in Bellevue, Newcastle, and Kirkland.  During the Bellevue burglary that occurred on the afternoon of August 13 in the 5900 block of 134^th Place SE in Bellevue’s Somerset neighborhood, the suspect(s) allegedly entered the residence by hopping on the roof – using a rear patio table and a bucket as a ladder. The suspect(s) removed a screen window connected to the home office, entered the residence, and stole the victims’ jewelry, debit and credit cards, cash, identity documents, and vehicle key fobs from the bedroom. 

Detectives later identified Daniel Bateman and Moniz as the two suspects who used the victims’ stolen credit cards at retail stores and a gas station after the burglary.  Detectives also determined that Daniel Bateman was wearing the victim’s watch during the warrant service at Moniz’s apartment on August 15.  Officers learned through interviews with the victims – a 58-year-old male and female – that the suspect(s) may have driven a black Toyota Prius.  Detectives later linked Daniel Bateman and Moniz to the theft of the Prius in Preston on July 30. 

On August 23, Detectives located Moniz inside Davis Bateman’s tan Honda sedan in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. Detectives arrested Moniz and booked her into the King County Jail.  Three days later, on August 26, Detectives located Daniel Bateman driving the stolen black Prius in Federal Way. Detectives arrested Bateman and booked him into the King County Jail.    Detectives have continued their investigation and linked Daniel Bateman and Moniz to two additional burglaries they committed together in Bellevue on August 1 and August 10. 

Members of the family were arrested for the following crimes:

Daniel Bateman, 42: Residential Burglary, 2^nd Degree Identity Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft

Crystal Moniz, 39: Residential Burglary, 2^nd Degree Identity Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft

Davis Bateman, 18: 2^nd Degree Assault, Possession of Stolen Firearm, and Unlawful Possession of Firearms.

UPDATE 4:13 p.m. Mr. Ventura has been located and is safe.

This morning shortly after 10 a.m., Bellevue Police responded to the Pinewood Village Apartments located in the 100 block of 150th Avenue NE. A resident reported that her elderly father walked away from that location at about 9 a.m. earlier that morning. The missing man, 84-year-old Rigoberto Ventura, speaks only Spanish and was last seen wearing tan colored pants and no shoes. Rigoberto has been diagnosed with dementia and is considered a missing endangered person. Anyone with information regarding Mr. Ventura’s whereabouts is encouraged to call notify the Bellevue Police Department or call 9-1-1.