Kent Police arrested two men for investigation of robbery after a reported carjacking early Monday morning, Feb. 26, on the West Hill and a vehicle pursuit into Auburn.
A Kent officer was conducting routine patrols in the 26000 block of Pacific Highway South at about 12:05 a.m. when patrons of a business flagged him down, according to a Feb. 26 Kent Police news release. One witness ran to the officer’s window to advise that suspects were attempting to rob a person of their vehicle behind the location.
The officer called for backup and immediately responded to the rear of the building, according to police. He could hear a vehicle accelerating and moved to positioned himself where he thought the vehicle was most likely to try to exit the parking lot. As he turned a corner, he saw the vehicle, later identified as white Ford SUV, attempting to flee.
As the officer accelerated towards the SUV, he saw a person fall from the driver’s side door. He aired to incoming officers that the vehicle was headed south on Pacific Highway South, and immediately stopped to assist the man who had fallen off the vehicle. That man, 61, of Kent, stated that suspects had taken his car by force.
The officer advised the incoming units that there was probable cause to pursue the vehicle for a qualifying crime under the current state pursuit laws.
While the man was being treated by fire personnel, Kent and Des Moines officers located and pursued the fleeing stolen vehicle. The officers applied a pursuit intervention technique (PIT) maneuver causing the vehicle to slow. A passenger/suspect number one, a 47-year-old Bellevue man, jumped out and began to run. Officers pursued him on foot and took him into custody without incident.
The man reportedly was carrying a bag at the time of his arrest that contained a loaded rifle, two replica handguns and suspected methamphetamines.
Kent officers continued to pursue the fleeing vehicle into Auburn. An Auburn Police officer applied a second PIT maneuver causing the vehicle to stop and become immobilized. The driver/suspect number two, a 48-year-old Los Angeles man, attempted to flee on foot and was pursued by officers. He was located and taken into custody a short time later.
The Bellevue man is a convicted felon and illegible to possess a firearm, according to police. He was booked into the King County jail for unlawful possession of a firearm, first-degree robbery and possession of a stolen vehicle. He is also facing misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and obstructing an investigation. Additional charges may be pending regarding the drug possession.
The Los Angeles man was arrested for investigation of first-degree robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle, eluding police and possession of motor vehicle theft tools.
The victim was treated by a local hospital and released the following day.
