In a series of events that began with a minor act of littering, the Bellevue Police Department arrested multiple family members on serious charges, including assault and burglary. According to the Bellevue Beat Blog, an incident at a Taco Bell restaurant led to a broader criminal investigation involving 18-year-old Davis Bateman, his mother Crystal Moniz, and her boyfriend Daniel Bateman, who are implicated in various crimes throughout Bellevue and surrounding areas.
The initial confrontation occurred on August 10, 2024, when Davis Bateman apparently threatened a Taco Bell security guard with a firearm after being confronted for littering. The license plate of his vehicle, a tan Honda sedan, was reported to the Bellevue Police, who used this information to establish probable cause for his arrest. Later, a special operations group and S.W.A.T. officers executed a search warrant on August 15, 2024, at a residence shared by Davis, Moniz, and Daniel Bateman. During the search, authorities discovered a trove of evidence signaling deeper criminal involvement, including weapons and stolen property.
Evidence collected from the residence linked the family members to several burglaries. They found stolen credit and debit cards, and identity documents – which were traced back to thefts across Bellevue, Newcastle, and Kirkland. The Bellevue Beat Blog reports detailed how suspects used a rooftop access method to burglarize a Bellevue home on August 13, 2024, taking jewelry, cards, and personal documents. Interviews with victims further suggested the involvement of a stolen black Toyota Prius, which was later confirmed to be linked to Daniel Bateman and Moniz.
The investigation led to multiple arrests: Daniel Bateman was nabbed on August 26, 2024, in Federal Way driving the stolen Prius, and Moniz was arrested three days prior, inside Davis Bateman's vehicle in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood. The family's criminal charges range widely, with Daniel Bateman facing counts of burglary, identity theft, and motor vehicle theft; Moniz facing similar charges, and Davis Bateman booked for assault, unlawful possession, and possession of a stolen firearm.
