By TJ MARTINELL

Reporter Newspapers

Three males believed to be behind numerous robberies, including one in Bellevue, were arrested by Redmond Police on Sept. 24 after an attempted robbery in Kirkland’s Rose Hill neighborhood. A fourth suspect is still at large.

The attempted robbery occurred at 3:30 a.m. when the three males, ages 16-19, entered the Rose Hill Walgreens located on Northeast 85th Street. Two of the suspects allegedly approached the pharmacy area in the back of the store while the third suspect made a purchase at the front counter, according to a press release statement from Kirkland Police Department spokesperson Mike Murray.

The suspect then exited the store, got into a vehicle and waited near the front door while the two suspects in the store allegedly attempted to steal narcotics, but were interrupted by the pharmacist. They left the store and were last seen leaving the area in a vehicle on 124th Avenue Northeast.

Redmond police spotted the vehicle driving on Redmond Way after receiving a description of the suspect and their vehicle. The three were arrested and are being held in the Kirkland Jail. A fourth suspect fled from the vehicle and has yet to be apprehended.

Police believe the suspects are responsible for committing several pharmacy robberies along the I-5 corridor.

The suspects are believed to have also committed a robbery at the Bartell Drugs store in Bellevue’s Crossroads area on Sept. 16, Bellevue police said. During that incident, the burglars used a stun gun on a clerk and then stole an undisclosed amount of Robitussin with codeine before fleeing.

Bellevue police K-9s were called to assist in the search for the fourth suspect on Sept. 24, but were unable to locate the suspect after two hours of searching. Several police agencies are working with the Kirkland Investigations Unit on the investigation.

TJ Martinell: 25-822-9166; tmartinell@kirklandreporter.com