News Flash

On Oct. 10, at approximately 10:30 p.m., Redmond Police responded to a reported armed robbery at a 7-11 store in the 5000 block of 148th Ave. NE. When officers arrived, the store clerk reported that two juvenile male suspects had threatened the clerk with a knife before stealing tobacco products and approximately $250 in cash from the register. The stolen money contained a concealed GPS tracking device.

An hour earlier, Bellevue Police had responded to an armed robbery in progress at a 7-11 store in Bellevue. The clerk reported the two suspects appeared to be juveniles, displayed knives, and threatened the clerk before stealing tobacco products.

Bellevue Police heard the report of the robbery in Redmond and began tracking the stolen money with the GPS device. Based on surveillance footage from the Redmond store, officers located the suspect vehicle and attempted a traffic stop near 140th Ave. and Main St. in Bellevue. The driver fled and began driving on the wrong side of the street at a high rate of speed. Officers discontinued the pursuit due to the dangers to public safety.

Later, officers located the dumped suspect vehicle and observed five individuals walking nearby. They were later positively identified as the suspects in both robberies, and all were arrested. Police recovered the cash and merchandise.

Four of the five suspects were juveniles between 16 and 17 years of age, and two had been reported as runaways. All four teens were booked into the King County Youth Detention Center, and the 18-year-old was interviewed and released. Redmond and Bellevue detectives are handling the investigation.