Published March 28 2016
Investigators with the Bellevue Police Special Enforcement Team had an unusually busy several days that involved saving a life and busting a burglarizing trio.
The unique series of events began when Bellevue police arrested a suspect accused of ramming a Bellevue officer's patrol car during a mail theft incident. As the investigation progressed, SET detectives obtained information of another suspect who was likely responsible for numerous burglaries throughout the region. After an extensive search, the suspect, a 23-year-old woman, was located in the International District of Seattle. When she was arrested, she had stolen property from recent burglaries in Issaquah and Bainbridge Island.
In her interview with police, the woman implicated another accomplice in several burglaries, including a recent break-in in Medina. Thanks to this lead, the SET detective was able to develop enough information to apply for a search warrant of the third suspect's residence in Issaquah. Investigators then searched the residence and located items believed to have been taken from other local burglaries.
But while searching the suspect's residence; detectives were advised by dispatch that CPR was being performed in an adjacent apartment. Two detectives were able to retrieve a defibrillator from their vehicle and begin CPR on the neighbor. The victim, who is currently in a hospital recovering, regained a pulse just as medics arrived. The quick response by police likely saved his life.
The third suspect was later interviewed back at the police station. He identified an additional suspect, a 28 year-old Bainbridge Island resident, who happened to be the same suspect who had fought with a cab driver and then ran from Bellevue Police earlier in the week after a suspected burglary.
Detectives are forwarding several charges to the King County Prosecutor for consideration, including burglary, possession of stolen property and eluding police.