BELLEVUE, Wash. — A suspect reportedly strangled a Bellevue police officer and stole a patrol car during a police pursuit early Saturday morning, according to the Bellevue Police Department.
Police said the officer responded to a reported burglary in progress at the AutoNation Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM dealership at around 4:15 a.m. Arriving officers found a suspect attempting to steal a safe and confronted him.
According to police, an altercation occurred resulting in the suspect strangling an officer. The suspect fled the scene in a stolen vehicle.
"He strangled her as he was inside a vehicle," said Bellevue Police Patrol Major Alycia McKinney. "The second officer was able to pull the first officer out of the vehicle and the subject basically fled the scene."
A police pursuit was initiated by Bellevue police which led to the suspect being involved in a head-on crash with another vehicle at the intersection of NE 8th Street and 124th Avenue NE.
Police said while officers were attempting to apprehend the suspect, the suspect stole a Bellevue police vehicle and led authorities on another pursuit involving multiple agencies.
Authorities deployed spike strips leading to a Tukwila police officer initiating a pursuit intervention tactic (PIT) on the suspect in the 6800 block of S. 228th Street in Kent.
Police said a short foot chase took place before the suspect was ultimately arrested.
"We don't give them enough credit for the effort that they put forward," said Dan Langley, an employee at a nearby business, Definitive Motors. "So I think that those are things that we take for granted."
The Bellevue police officer who was strangled was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and released later Saturday morning. The officer is expected to fully recover, according to BPD.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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