BELLEVUE, Wash. — The suspect accused of choking a Bellevue police officer following a pursuit pleaded not guilty to seven charges Wednesday.
Dorion Jermaine Rowe, 22, was charged with first-degree burglary, two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, third-degree assault, two counts of attempting to elude a pursuing police vehicle, and hit-and-run of an attended vehicle. The King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office said the seven charges filed against Rowe are felonies.
At Wednesday's arraignment, the judge prohibited filming of the defendant's face because identity confirmation is still a factor in the case. Rowe's attorney stated that while there was body camera footage of the incident, the suspect was wearing a hat and it could not be proven without a reasonable doubt that he was the suspect involved in each pursuit or theft.
According to police, an altercation occurred on Sept. 23 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 Alycia McKinney, Bellevue police patrol major. "The second officer was able to pull the first officer out of the vehicle and the subject basically fled the scene."
The officer who was strangled was treated and released from the hospital the same day.
Bellevue police initiated a pursuit 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 South 228th Street in Kent.
Police said a short foot chase took place before the suspect was ultimately arrested.
Rowe's attorney asked that he be released with electronic monitoring and cited a strong family support system to hold him accountable. The judge denied that request and kept bail at $250,000.
Rowe's trial is set for Nov. 16.
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