Kent, WA: Kent Police Department officers, working in collaboration with Auburn Police, arrested a 27-year-old Bothell man early Friday morning after an armed robbery and high-speed chase involving a stolen van.
The incident occurred around 2:19 a.m. on November 7, when Kent officers were dispatched to a business in the 25400 block of 104th Ave SE following reports of an armed robbery. The suspect reportedly threatened a victim with a gun before stealing cash and fleeing in a stolen van.
Officers quickly located the vehicle heading westbound on James Street. A K9 officer attempted to stop the van, but the suspect accelerated away, reaching speeds of up to 100 miles per hour. For safety reasons, the pursuit was discontinued.
Shortly after, Auburn patrol officers located the crashed van near the 3500 block of Auburn Way N, where the suspect had collided with a stationary object. Both departments set up a perimeter. Kent and Auburn K9 officers tracked the suspect, who was found hiding on the porch of a nearby home.
The suspect was arrested without further incident, though he sustained minor injuries from the crash. He was treated and later booked into King County Jail on charges of First-Degree Robbery, Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, and Eluding Police.
A subsequent search of the impounded van revealed a loaded handgun matching the victim’s description. Additional charges are expected pending further investigation.
Kent Police expressed gratitude to Auburn Police for their assistance and to their K9 teams for successfully tracking the suspect.