Medina Police arrested two suspected in a residential burglary in a case that included the suspects ramming the police vehicle and attempting to flee.
Police responded to a call at about 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 1 of a residential burglary in progress in the 7600 block of Northeast 12th Street.
The female victim was home alone when she heard a loud knock on the front door. When she did not answer, the two suspects went to the back of the house. At that point the victim heard glass breaking and her home alarm sounded. She came downstairs to find a man standing in her home.
A Medina officer responded within moments of the call, and saw the two suspects run from the house and flee in a vehicle. The officer followed the suspects as they headed east into Clyde Hill.
While in pursuit of the suspects, the driver rammed the officer’s patrol vehicle. When both vehicles came to a stop, the driver continued to flee on foot. After a foot pursuit of several blocks, the officer used a taser to subdue the suspect and place him under arrest.
With the assistance of officers from Bellevue and Clyde Hill, both the male suspect and his female accomplice were placed under arrest and booked into the King County Jail. The male suspect has an extensive criminal history and is a convicted felon. His felony convictions include burglary, arson, possession of stolen property, vehicle theft, eluding, and drug violations.
Interviews of the suspects following their arrest revealed a larger plot to burglarize homes in Medina, potentially involving two more suspects in a white truck.
The group’s tactic was to approach a house and knock on the door to determine if anyone was home. If someone answered, they would claim they were looking for their lost dog, and move on to another potential target. This group may also be responsible for a theft of a purse that occurred in the 8300 block of Northeast 12th Street on the same day.
The victim, although shaken, was unharmed. The Medina officer suffered minor injuries and is recovering at home.
The Medina Police Department will be conducting emphasis patrols with both covert and overt officer presence.
