Bellevue Beat Blog

Today, the Bellevue Police Department announced the additional arrest of 73-year-old Robert Scroggs after a thorough investigation was made into the teacher’s relationships with students during his tenure with the Bellevue School District.

Similar to the previous case, the teacher allegedly touched the victim – a 9-year-old female – inappropriately during class. The incident occurred during the time Scroggs filled-in as substitute teacher for Newport Heights Elementary School from January to April 2024.  

The additional arrest for Child Molestation of the 1^st Degree was made at approximately 8:00 a.m. on June 24. This is now the second time Scroggs has been arrested for Child Molestation of the 1^st Degree, with the first occurring on June 7 at approximately 3:10 p.m.

The Department praises Bellevue residents for collaborating with law enforcement on this matter. Numerous tips and the investigation from Officers led to this additional arrest.

However, the Bellevue Police Department urges anyone who still may have information on these cases or other potential cases to come forward and contact the Bellevue Police Department by dialing the NORCOM non-emergency line 425-577-5656. Victims may also contact Detective Sergeant Brenda Johnson at: Bjohnson@bellevuewa.gov.

“In law enforcement, we often preach ‘when you see something, say something.’ Thanks to our partnership with residents and the Bellevue community, Officers were able to hold accountable an individual for committing heinous crimes on some of our most vulnerable,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of the Bellevue Police Department. “Let this serve as an example to everyone that if someone doubts your safety or well-being to contact law enforcement immediately.”

The Bellevue Police Department will continue to provide updates about this case should any new information come forward.

For more information about sexual assault prevention and education resources, as well as tips for talking to your kids about safety and boundaries, please visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

The Bellevue Police Department is asking residents to stay vigilant and exercise caution when communicating with strangers following a series of recent street thefts that targeted older individuals across Bellevue.

The string of incidents occurred when two suspects – a young female and a young male – randomly approached the victims for assistance. After the victims helped the suspects, the female suspect would express gratitude by offering the victims jewelry and either a hug or handshake. The female suspect would then use the gesture to quickly yank jewelry off the victims – items that are high value – before jumping back in the vehicle, allowing the male suspect to speed away from the incident.

The incidents are as follows:

On June 25 at approximately 8:24 p.m., Bellevue Police responded to a call on the 13800 block of SE 44^th Street. The victim – a 91-year-old male – informed Officers the female suspect approached him from a white SUV while he was checking his mail earlier that evening. He claimed he thought she was asking for directions as she extended her hand his way. The victim attempted to provide the suspect a handshake, and it was then when the suspect allegedly yanked his Rolex watch from his wrist.  The victim sustained several cuts from the incident, and the suspects drove away with the stolen jewelry.

A similar case occurred on June 19. At approximately 6:03 p.m., Officers responded to a call on the corner of 124^th Avenue NE and NE 2^nd Street where a victim – a 71-year-old female – had her Rolex watch yanked from her wrist after helping an individual with directions. Similar to the incident yesterday, two suspects traveling in a white SUV stopped and asked the victim for help. The victim complied and after helping the suspects, the female suspect offered jewelry and asked for a handshake as a “thank you.” It was at this time that the suspect allegedly yanked the watch from the victim’s wrist before the driver (male suspect) quickly sped away.

Screenshot of the white SUV involved in the series of street theft incidents across Bellevue.

And on June 17 at approximately 11:34 a.m., two victims – a 68-year-old female and a 78-year-old male – were stopped at the corner of 108^th Avenue NE and NE 2^nd Place by the two suspects driving in a black sedan. Speaking in a different language to the victims, the driver (male suspect) made gestures as if a female passenger was pregnant and needed to get to the hospital. After the victim provided directions, the female suspect exited the vehicle, handed the victims jewelry, and provided them what appeared to be a hug in gratitude. It was then when the suspect allegedly unzipped the female victim’s jacket and ripped off her gold chain necklace. Before the victim was even aware a theft occurred, the suspects sped off.

Screenshot of the black SUV involved in the street theft incident on June 17, 2024.

Victims from all three incidents did not sustain any serious physical injuries. However, the Bellevue Police Department asks all residents – particularly older individuals – 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. Do not accept gifts from strangers
4. Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings

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

A robbery in Bellevue appears to be connected to a larger crime spree across the Eastside.

At approximately 2:48 a.m. this morning, Bellevue Police Officers responded to a robbery at the Arco Midlakes located at the 11600 black on NE 8^th Street. The victim told Officers two male suspects – one wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, jeans, and a mask and the other wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, jeans, and a mask – came into the store, threatened the victim with a possible firearm, and allegedly demanded cash from the register and any other cash kept in the store.

The victim then told Bellevue Officers the suspects grabbed the money from both cash registers, and then allegedly stole more items from the shelves and refrigerators in the store – including vapes, torches, cigars, and drinks. Cash and items were stolen from the gas station.  The suspects fled the scene using a red 2021 Kia sedan, which was previously reported stolen in Bellevue.

Officers then initiated a vehicle pursuit due to the nature of the crime and the fact that the suspects were an immediate danger to the overall public. At one point during the chase, the suspects intentionally attempted to ram Officers from another agency with the stolen car.  Officers lost sight of the vehicle due to the reckless driving of the suspects.

Additionally, Officers with the Clyde Hill Police Department, Medina Police Department, Redmond Police Department, Renton Police Department, Tukwila Police Department, and Washington State Patrol were all involved to various degrees with the pursuit and subsequent incidents across the Eastside. The suspects also may have possibly switched vehicles and fled in a white Hyundai SUV – which was later found abandoned in Renton.

While the incident continues to be investigated by Bellevue Police, the Department commends the quick actions by the victim at the start of the crime. While it is unclear if the suspects were armed, adhering to the suspects’ demands may have saved the victim’s life. Any person who is threatened in this manner must always remember to put their lives ahead of their possessions, and then immediately contact law enforcement following an incident. The victim involved in Tuesday morning’s incident did just that.

The Bellevue Police Department asks any individual who may have more information about the incident Tuesday morning to call law enforcement. 

The Bellevue Police Department is asking residents for help with an ongoing investigation following the arrest of a teacher who allegedly molested a minor at Newport Heights Elementary School.

The suspect – 73-year-old Robert Scroggs – is a long-time special education teacher for the Bellevue School District – working recently for the elementary school’s special-needs department from January to April 2024. Scroggs’s history of employment and the possibility of more victims is why the Bellevue Police Department urges anyone who has information on this case or other potential cases to come forward and contact the Bellevue Police Department by dialing 9-1-1 or the NORCOM non-emergency line 425-577-5656. Victims may also contact Detective Sergeant Brenda Johnson at: Bjohnson@bellevuewa.gov.

On June 6 at approximately 1:34 p.m., school officials contacted Bellevue Police after a parent reported her eight-year-old child had been sexually assaulted by the suspect.

According to police reports, the parent informed the school Scroggs would often take the victim out of class to address the child’s social, emotional, and behavioral issues. It was there where Scroggs would allegedly molest the minor.

The parent learned about the sexual assault after the victim spoke with the parent about the incidents – naming the suspect directly in the conversation.

The Bellevue Police Department arrested Robert Scroggs at approximately 3:10 p.m. on Friday, June 7 for Child Molestation 1^st Degree. He was booked in the King County Jail. Additionally, the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center and Child Protective Services have been notified and referred to this case.

It’s crucial to note Bellevue Police are withholding the name of the minor involved in this case as required by law and to maintain the integrity of the investigation. The Bellevue Police Department takes allegations of this nature very seriously and is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all members of our community – especially children.

For more information about sexual assault prevention and education resources, as well as tips for talking to your kids about safety and boundaries, please visit the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

A 59-year-old woman was arrested for hate crime charges for allegedly harassing two Asian residents at Wilburton Park in Bellevue this past weekend.

At approximately 9:30p.m. on Friday, The Bellevue Police Department responded to a call at the 12400 block of Main Street where the suspect allegedly targeted two victims based on their race. According to reports, the suspect began following the victims – a 49-year-old Asian female and a 49-year-old Asian male – through Wilburton Park, and then proceeded to scream derogatory phrases toward them specifically about their Asian heritage. The harassment then escalated when the suspect made apparent threats to kill the victims.

The entire incident lasted for about five minutes, however, the victims informed Bellevue Police the threats made against them left them feeling unsafe as they were unsure if the suspect would carry out the threats.

Bellevue Officers determined probable cause that the suspect’s harassment toward the victims were, in fact, due to their Asian heritage and a threat to the victims and arrested her for two counts of Hate Crime Offenses toward other individuals.

Hate crimes are not always physical, but in some cases conducted as forms of verbal harassment. In the view of Bellevue Police, the victims provided a great example of what to do should anyone’s safety feel jeopardized: call law enforcement. Any individual who feels like their safety is at risk and is being targeted due to their race, gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity should dial 9-1-1.

“The City of Bellevue is a safe community, but crime does happen – including hate crimes. However, the quick actions by residents and law enforcement ensured that the suspect was held accountable,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of the Bellevue Police Department. “I want to be clear: there is zero tolerance for anyone who attempts or is found to commit hate crimes in this community.”

A Bellevue Police Detective earned Kemper Development Company Security’s Meritorious Service Award in May for the operation that caught and jailed a West Coast organized retail theft ring responsible for stealing more than $537,000 worth of merchandise from retail stores across Western Washington.

The Meritorious Service Award recognizes an individual for providing exceptional performance during a complex case investigation over a prolonged period of time. Detective Jeff Christiansen earned this honor after successfully conducting a long-term investigation in collaboration with Kemper Development Company Security and retail stores affected by the theft operation.

The effort was so successful that retail investigators stated no large-scale organized theft crimes have occurred in the northwest region at the previously affected stores since law enforcement arrested the individuals on April 9, 2024.

As previously reported on the Bellevue Beat Blog, 19-year-old Reality Leavens, 23-year-old Janeice Downs, and 49-year-old Janeice Wiley were alleged to have committed documented retail thefts on at least 42 occasions in stores located in Southern California, Northern Oregon, and Western Washington. The theft ring primarily targeted LuluLemon stores.

Detective Christiansen, in coordination with colleagues within the Bellevue Police Department, Kemper Development Company Security, and retail investigators, reviewed dozens of theft cases involving this theft ring from Bellevue and other law enforcement agencies throughout western Washington. Christiansen then connected the stolen merchandise to the stores, the cars the suspects drove (often times without the license plates attached), and hours of security video from the stores in order to establish proof of involvement in every single case linked to the overall operation.

Christiansen’s work then escalated to additional collaboration with the King County Prosecutor’s Office Special Operations Unit and local judges to obtain multiple search warrants that would be used to recover electronic evidence geo-locating the suspects to the crime scenes from each individual operation. This work also led police to locate additional stolen property and three firearms during an executed search warrant and arrest of the suspects on April 9.

Downs is still in custody at the King County Jail and has been charged with Organized Retail Theft in King County, Pierce County, and Multnomah County (Oregon).  The investigation is ongoing to locate and arrest additional now-identified accomplices of Downs.

“Detective Jeff Christiansen is a shining example of the work Bellevue Police accomplish to maintain the city as a safe place to work, play, and live. Without Detective Christiansen’s leadership and meticulous and collaborative efforts, this organized theft ring would no doubt be still committing these crimes today,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of the Bellevue Police Department. “Justice has rightfully been served, and Bellevue Police once again demonstrate that should you commit crimes in Bellevue, be prepared to be held accountable.”

“This case highlights the critical partnership between retailers, security officers, police investigators, and prosecutors.  We cannot be successful without active, on-going communication and information sharing with each other,” said Carl Kleinknecht, Director of Security for Kemper Development Company. “We appreciate the relationship we have with our partners at the Bellevue Police Department.”

The Bellevue Police Department (BPD) will launch the third annual King County Target Zero “100 Safe Days of Summer” program on Friday and Saturday in an effort to prevent, intervene, and enforce the dramatic rise of impaired and distracted driving-related road incidents across Washington State.

As a continuing partner of the King County Target Zero Task Force, the BPD will host the Mobile Impaired Driving Unit (MIDU) at the northwest corner of Bellevue Way NE and NE 8^th Street in Bellevue where Officers will take individuals suspected of impaired driving for routine procedures used in DUI-related cases – including breath test processing and lawful blood draws and screenings. Media wishing to attend must RSVP with Drew Anderson at daanderson@bellevuewa.gov.

WHO: Bellevue Police Department, King County Target Zero Task Force

WHEN: Friday, June 7 at 8:00-10:00 PM (Press Availability)

WHERE: Northwest Corner of Bellevue Way NE and NE 8^th Street

“There is zero excuse to drive impaired in 2024. The statewide spike in impaired traffic incidents is alarming, and unfortunately, Bellevue is not immune to this problem,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of the Bellevue Police Department. “Residents can rest assured that Bellevue Police Officers will be working around-the-clock this summer to hold accountable individuals who drive impaired and jeopardize Bellevue as being the safe place to work, live, and play.”

Between 2022 and 2023, Bellevue Police saw about a 15-percent increase in DUI incidents – with 270 DUI-related cases in 2022 and 310 DUI cases in 2023. There have been 94 DUI-related cases so far in 2024. Additionally, the BPD provided 566 citations to motorists who used electronic devices while driving in 2023 and 144 citations for drivers in 2024 thus far.

Bellevue’s figures reflect a larger (and dangerous) trend about Washington’s roads.  According to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, the state reached a 33-year high in traffic-related fatalities on Washington’s roads – including 400 deaths that involved an impaired motorist and 135 that involved a distracted driver. More data surrounding this growing problem can be found by visiting a dashboard provided by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. The “100 Safe Days of Summer” effort is a public attempt to mitigate this growing and alarming trend.

The BPD is a part of the King County Target Zero Task Force, a collaboration from stakeholders such as law enforcement, city/regional/state/tribal governments, community organizations, and schools to create equitable traffic safety programs that would reduce collisions, injuries, and fatalities across King County. It is also part of the city of Bellevue’s Vision Zero initiative, adopted in 2016, which aims to eliminate traffic deaths and serious-injury collisions on city streets by 2030. Educating people driving on the danger of driving under the influence and enforcing traffic laws are part of Bellevue’s Safe System approach to road safety.

DUI and impaired-driving arrests are always preventable. The Bellevue Police Department urges residents to take advantage of many other options to ensure a safe ride home and a safe community – including taking public transit, ridesharing opportunities made available on smartphones, carpooling and vanpooling, walking, or calling a friend or family member.

The Bellevue Fire and Police Departments’ Community Crisis Assistance Team (CCAT) has diverted more than 100 individuals from the criminal justice system in the last eight months thanks to their specialized training to address behavioral health emergencies across the community.

The Team pairs specially trained Bellevue Police Officers with mental health professionals from the Fire Department’s Community Advocates for Referral and Educations Services (CARES) program to respond to calls related to behavioral health crises. The program launched as a pilot in 2021 and has since received permanent funding support given its success in providing consistent and individualized care that works with individuals and families to achieve long-term stability. 

Police and Fire representatives provided an update on the program to the Bellevue City Council in May, highlighting CCAT’s ability to effectively assist community members during times of crisis – particularly behavioral health emergencies – while also reducing the person’s chances of facing criminal charges, arrests, use of force, and emergency room visits to area hospitals.

“The data and first-hand accounts are sharing the good news: Bellevue’s Community Crisis Assistance Team is not only working, it’s saving lives. CCAT is providing the kind of world-class service that continues to establish Bellevue as the place to work, play, and live,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of the Bellevue Police Department. “The City has embraced CCAT, and both Departments plan to take this effort to the next level as we provide people the life-saving mental health care services they need during times of crisis.”

The data showed more than 140 individual cases opened by the Fire Department’s CARES team and referred to CCAT since the City Council approved permanent funding for the CCAT program in Sept. 2023. This includes 484 behavioral health calls (48% increase) and 124 calls involving the topic of suicide (74% increase) during the first eight months of the permanent program.

Community members are encouraged to call 9-8-8 if someone is experiencing a mental health emergency.

Calls relayed to CCAT often involve de-escalation or diversion methods that have prevented crimes or threats to an individual’s health while protecting the community’s overall wellbeing. Since Sept. 2023, this includes 27 diversions from criminal charges, 25 diversions from arrest, 8 diversions from incarcerations, 24 diversions from use-of-force, and 25 diversions from unnecessary emergency room visits.

Given the effectiveness of Bellevue’s CCAT team, both Fire and Police teams see an opportunity to take this work to the next level. This includes plans to host advanced crisis negotiation training for the CCAT team and provide basic training to all firefighters and police officers – with the goal of preparing them to address less serious behavioral health-related calls. Further, the City is currently recruiting an Opioid Outreach Crisis Response Social Worker to join the CCAT and CARES teams.

Permanent funding for CCAT was approved by the Bellevue City Council in its 2023-2024 fiscal budget. The initial announcement from the Bellevue Police Department on August 31, 2023 can be found here. CCAT’s initial pilot program was launched in March 2022.

In an effort to maintain the City of Bellevue as the safe place for all residents to work, play, and live, the Bellevue Police Department (BPD) today announced the continuation of its successful Bellevue Police Safe Place program ahead of LGBTQ Pride Month in June.

The program is more important than ever for LGBTQ residents and visitors. A 2023 national report by the Federal Bureau of Investigation found hate crimes against all LGBTQ individuals increased by 19-percent in 2022 compared to 2021. This included 622 reported single-bias, anti-LGBTQ hate crimes and 338 anti-transgender hate crimes (a 35-percent increase from the year before).

“The Bellevue Police Safe Place program is a community-wide effort to give LGBTQ people assurance that whether it’s a local business, a place or worship, or even a police department – they have allies who will look after them,” said Wendell Shirley, Chief of the Bellevue Police Department. “In the past, the national relationship between law enforcement and the LGBTQ community was not great, but for many local police departments – including the Bellevue Police Department – we are committed to rectifying the past by protecting the safety and well-being of today’s LGBTQ community. They have a safe place to work, play, and live in the City of Bellevue.”  

Safe Place signage – like above – is displayed by participating community members, businesses, schools, and organizations that work closely with the Bellevue Police to reduce anti-LGBTQ crimes and LGBTQ student bullying and to encourage the reporting of anti-LGBTQ crimes. To receive a Safe Place badge, residents or businesses can submit a formal request at www.bpdsafeplace.com.  

Although Bellevue enjoys a low rate of violent crime, discrimination, and crime against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) residents and visitor, these incidents still do occur. The Safe Place program provides LGBTQ people a location to visit should they feel they have been or are a victim of a hate crime – including in-person and online harassment.

Calling 9-1-1 and waiting for police to respond is essential for holding suspects accountable and reducing hate crimes and harassment in general. In addition to the 9-1-1 police response to these incidents, the Bellevue Police have an LGBTQ liaison officer who promotes partnerships between the department and LGBTQ community and can be a resource for answers to questions residents may have.

About Safe Place: The mission of Safe Place is to provide the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/ questioning (LGBTQ) community with signage and resources that provide easily accessible safety information. Safe Place – started by Seattle Police Officer Jim Ritter – is designed to further enhance the relationship between the police department, the LGBTQ community, and local businesses by providing Safe Place decals and signage to local businesses and organizations and encouraging those entities to clearly post them at the entrances to their premise as a symbol of safety for the victims of LGBTQ crime and a warning to those who commit those crimes.

Two juvenile suspects were arrested by Bellevue Police early Tuesday morning after making threats over the weekend to shoot and kill three juvenile girls at their respective high schools in Bellevue.

At approximately 10:30pm Monday evening, the Bellevue Police Department responded to a call by three female juveniles who shared they received repeated death threats by two suspects – a female juvenile and a male juvenile.

According to the victims, both suspects made threats on social media that they would find the victims at their respective schools – Newport High School, Sammamish High School, and Bellevue High School – and shoot them on Tuesday. The victims told BPD Officers the male suspect waved what appeared to be a firearm and displayed ammunition loaded in a magazine on video. As the threats escalated on social media over the course of the weekend, they realized the threat of a firearm being used against them was credible and imminent.

Officers developed probable cause to arrest both juvenile suspects. After searching the female suspect’s residence in Bellevue, Officers – with assistance from the Issaquah Police Department – performed a check at the male suspect’s residence in Issaquah. The parents of the male suspect told police that both suspects were inside, however refused to grant officers access.

At approximately 1:35am Tuesday morning and while police were in the process of obtaining a warrant to search the residence, the female suspect attempted to flee the location through the back door of the residence. Officers arrested the female suspect as well as the male suspect shortly after without incident. Bellevue Police served a search warrant on the home and successfully recovered multiple firearms and ammunition inside. 

This is still an open and active investigation and Bellevue Police have no information to suggest that the threats were random or that there is any other ongoing threat to the community related to this particular matter.

 “All of us – young people, parents, and everyone in the community – need to take threats of violence seriously, but especially threats of gun violence – whether it’s in person or online,” said Shelby Shearer, Captain of the Bellevue Police Department. “Fortunately, with timely and critical help from the community, the Bellevue PD was able to interrupt this escalation of threats, get the two people making them into custody, and get their firearms away from them before we had a tragedy in our community.”

Victims involved in the incident this weekend provided a textbook example on how to handle online harassment. The Bellevue Police Department provided the following tips to residents and the media on May 14 after an incident online led to violence offline in Factoria.

The following steps below can deescalate online harassment and prevent real-life violence in the process: