Chaos erupted in Bellevue as police arrested a suspect for a DUI, assault, and eluding officers after a dangerous incident that included explosive devices. According to the Bellevue Beat Blog, the saga began when officers found a black Mercedes sedan with two men sleeping inside and obvious signs of drug use at around 10:36 a.m. on the 3500 block of 108th Ave. The vehicle had been reported stolen.
The driver, upon being woken up, attempted to escape, setting off a low-speed chase even after police deployed spikes to deflate the vehicle's tires. The pursuit ambled under I-90 and onto various local streets before Washington State Patrol joined and attempted a PIT maneuver. "Washington State Patrol then disabled the vehicle by attempting to use a PIT maneuver traveling at approximately 3 mph – disabling the vehicle just west of Exit 8," the Bellevue Beat Blog reports. As one of the suspects tried to flee on foot, he revealed he was armed with a blow torch and an explosive device.
After the suspect attempted to light the explosive device, officers quickly subdued and arrested him. The passenger of the vehicle was also apprehended after a failed attempt to escape. One officer reportedly sustained minor injuries during the altercation. The discovery of two additional explosive devices in the Mercedes prompted authorities to close I-90 and call in bomb squads from multiple agencies for assistance.
Bellevue Police Chief Wendell Shirley expressed his gratitude for the swift actions of the Bellevue Officers and their collaborators. "Their actions kept this community safe," Chief Shirley stated. Following the events, both suspects were evaluated at Overlake Medical Center and will face charges, with the driver accused of DUI, possession of an explosive device, multiple assault, possession of a stolen vehicle, and eluding law enforcement.