BELLEVUE, Wash. — Bellevue police have arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of DUI after he allegedly fell asleep at an intersection and then fought with officers when he was woken up.
Police say a concerned person reported a man being slumped over the wheel of a Hyundai sedan at the intersection of 148th Avenue Northeast and Bel-Red Road just before 6:15 a.m. Wednesday morning.
Officers arrived to the scene shortly after the call, and found the man passed out in the driver's seat, police say. The car's engine was running and was in "drive," police say. Police also say the ignition appeared to have been removed.
Police say they also saw there were "various tools" that are generally used to commit theft and burglary crimes in the center console of the car. Police say they developed probable cause to arrest the driver for suspected DUI and possible motor vehicle theft. In preparation for arrest, Bellevue police positioned vehicles on both the front and back end of the vehicle.
When the suspect woke up as officers attempted to make an arrest, he "quickly began to resist," police say. Bellevue police ended up using tasers and calling in additional units to ensure the man was taken into custody. A Bellevue officer broke a finger, and that officer was treated at Overlake Medical Center along with the suspect. Police didn't specify what injuries the suspect sustained in the incident.
Bellevue police say the man was arrested on suspicion of DUI, assault of a police officer, resisting arrest, possession of a stolen vehicle, possession of burglary tools, ignition interlock violation, possession of stolen mail and driving with a suspended license.
Police say the suspect is potentially connected to another incident in Redmond, and police found suspected stolen mail from "at least 29 victims in Bellevue and Redmond."
