A Bellevue Police lieutenant is on administrative leave after firing at a suspect who allegedly pulled a modified pellet gun on officers responding to a domestic disturbance in the Lake Hills neighborhood on Friday night.
Kevin Sahagun, 27, was driving with his girlfriend to his mother’s house on the 1200 block of 151st Avenue Southeast on Friday, when a verbal argument turned physical, according to a probable cause statement. Outside his mother’s house, Sahagun allegedly pushed his girlfriend to the ground, prompting a neighbor to call 911.
Bellevue Police Lt. Andrew Popochock and another officer responded to the domestic dispute, at which time Sahagun is alleged to have pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the officers and his girlfriend, according to court documents, which add the suspect also grabbed his girlfriend and pulled her toward him after producing the weapon.
The King County Investigative Response Team reports the lieutenant fired one shot that struck a parked vehicle.
Sahagun allegedly dropped the pellet gun and began running from officers. He was caught several blocks away. KCIRT reports the barrel of a pellet gun had been drilled out to look like a real firearm.
Court documents state Sahagun told officers he pulled the pellet gun on officers because he wanted to be killed, but changed his mind when Popochock fired the single shot. Sahagun’s girlfriend reportedly sustained minor scratches during the dispute.
KCIRT is handling the officer-involved shooting investigation, said Bellevue Police Ofc. Seth Tyler said, adding having the county unit investigating the shooting is important for transparency.
Popochock fatally shot a suicidal 41-year-old man, who was allegedly threatening a family member with a knife, in July 2007. The Bellevue Police Department reported at the time that was Popochock’s first involvement in a police shooting. An inquest was ordered, and the shooting was found to be justified. In his time with the department, he also has been a firearms instructor, range master and field training officer.
Sahagun was arrested on one count each of third-degree assault and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence) and his first court appearance is set for today at the King County Courthouse.
Original Story
A Bellevue Police lieutenant is on administrative leave tonight, after a domestic disturbance call led to the 12-year department veteran firing at a suspect believed to have been carrying a modified pellet gun in the Lake Hills neighborhood.
The King County Investigative Response Team reports the lieutenant was part of a responding unit dispatched to the 1200 block of 151st Avenue Southeast around 6:30 p.m. Friday.
The KCIRT is handling the officer-involved shooting investigation, said Bellevue Police Ofc. Seth Tyler said, adding having the county unit investigating the shooting is important for transparency.
Shortly after responding to the disturbance, an officer radioed dispatch that shots had been fired, according to a KCIRT news release. The lieutenant who fired the shot then radioed to report a foot chase had started. Investigators determined the 36-year-old lieutenant fired once, striking the window of a parked car.
The 28-year-old suspect was taken into custody, police locating what looked like a semiautomatic handgun in the street, according to the KCIRT. Police report the barrel of a pellet gun had been drilled out to look like a real firearm.
