Arrest Made After Armed Carjackings

A suspect was arrested following 2 armed carjackings in Bellevue and in Seattle – then leading officers on a pursuit from Bellevue to Seattle Monday afternoon. The man was eventually caught in Renton. However, before he was caught, he lead police on a pursuit. The man in question drove the vehicle on SR 520 and into Seattle. The man allegedly hit two vehicles on the SR 520 bridge, and then drove into Seattle’s Eastlake neighborhood. 

Common carjacking ruses include: bumping the victim’s vehicle from behind, and taking the car when the victim gets out of the vehicle to assess damage and exchange information;  staging a fake car accident, sometimes with injuries, and stealing the vehicle of a passerby who stops to assist; flashing lights or waving to get the victim’s attention, indicating that there is a problem with the victim’s car, and then taking the car once the victim pulls over; and following a victim home, blocking the victim’s car in a driveway or in front of a gate.

In Bellevue, police responded to the armed robbery call just before 12:30 p.m. at a Bellevue Square parking garage. The victim told police the man fired his gun at her and stole her purse, before driving away in the victim’s car. The victim was not injured in that carjacking, police said. 

The man carjacked a second vehicle in the 2300 block of Eastlake Ave East. Seattle police said the man shot that car owner in the leg, and then took off in the owner’s white Jeep Grand Cherokee. The man traveled south and was eventually caught by Kent police, who pursued him into Renton.

The man was taken into custody in the 4500 block of Talbot Rd. South in Renton. The man has not yet been identified. Kent police said they had a similar carjacking reported around 11:45 a.m. Monday, and they are now investigating to see if this is the same suspect involved.