Bellevue police seek public help in identifying suspect in Pride art vandalism
KOMO (archive.ph)
By Karina Vargas
2024-10-03 10:21:55GMT
An image from a traffic camera that captured a suspect who is connected to three vandalism incidents on Bellevue’s Pride art piece. (Courtesy: Bellevue Police Department)
BELLEVUE, Wash. — The Bellevue Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect they say vandalized the city’s LGBTQ+ Pride art piece.
Police said the suspect may be tied to three separate reckless driving and vandalism incidents targeting the city of Bellevue’s Pride art piece near the city’s downtown park.
“Any artwork we have in Bellevue, we kind of make it a point to promote it in Bellevue, so when someone comes and defaces it for no reason other than to vandalize something, it doesn’t make even less sense," said Lenny Gutierrez, who frequents the park.
In each of the three incidents, police say the suspect, who is described as a young male, was driving a dark gray BMW sedan without a license plate and conducting burnouts on the artwork. Police said in one incident, the vandalism happened in broad daylight and threatened the safety of other residents.
“That puts lives at risk. That puts other folks in danger because what if that suspect lost control of that vehicle," said Drew Anderson, PIO for the Bellevue Police Department.
Residents KOMO News spoke to fear that if this suspect is not stopped, someone could end up hurt.
“It’s right next to a park, and you’re right next to a kid's park. It’s a complete safety issue. You have restaurants and businesses, a completely residential area. It has to stop. It’s not safe," said Jessica Sipes, who lives near the artwork.
Bellevue police released information on the three separate incidents.
An image from a traffic camera that captured a suspect who is connected to three vandalism incidents on Bellevue’s Pride art piece. (Courtesy: Bellevue Police Department)
July 14, 2024: At approximately 10:12 p.m., traffic camera footage for the intersection of NE 1st Street and 102nd Avenue NE showed a suspect in a sedan allegedly conducting a 720-degree burnout in a counterclockwise motion over the Pride art piece. Once finished, the suspect sped out of the area, heading eastbound onto NE 1st Street. The city of Bellevue’s Transportation Department estimated the suspect caused about $3,200 in damages.
September 7, 2024: At approximately 4:27 p.m., traffic camera footage showed a suspect in a sedan allegedly conducting a burnout across the Pride art piece. In this incident, the suspect had his windows rolled down and completed the burnout in traffic while pedestrians were crossing the crosswalk. The suspect exited the intersection, heading westbound on NE 1st Street. The city of Bellevue’s Transportation Department estimated the suspect caused about $5,000 in damages.
September 15, 2024:At approximately 7:57 p.m., traffic camera footage showed a suspect in a sedan allegedly conducting a 720-degree burnout in a counterclockwise motion across the intersection. This time, the suspect speeds off in the same direction he was previously traveling, heading eastbound on NE 1st Street. The city of Bellevue’s Transportation Department estimated the suspect caused about $5,337 in damages.
Bellevue police are asking anyone who may have information on these cases to contact Crimestoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
KOMO (archive.ph)
By Karina Vargas
2024-10-03 10:21:55GMT
An image from a traffic camera that captured a suspect who is connected to three vandalism incidents on Bellevue’s Pride art piece. (Courtesy: Bellevue Police Department)
BELLEVUE, Wash. — The Bellevue Police Department is asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect they say vandalized the city’s LGBTQ+ Pride art piece.
Police said the suspect may be tied to three separate reckless driving and vandalism incidents targeting the city of Bellevue’s Pride art piece near the city’s downtown park.
“Any artwork we have in Bellevue, we kind of make it a point to promote it in Bellevue, so when someone comes and defaces it for no reason other than to vandalize something, it doesn’t make even less sense," said Lenny Gutierrez, who frequents the park.
In each of the three incidents, police say the suspect, who is described as a young male, was driving a dark gray BMW sedan without a license plate and conducting burnouts on the artwork. Police said in one incident, the vandalism happened in broad daylight and threatened the safety of other residents.
“That puts lives at risk. That puts other folks in danger because what if that suspect lost control of that vehicle," said Drew Anderson, PIO for the Bellevue Police Department.
Residents KOMO News spoke to fear that if this suspect is not stopped, someone could end up hurt.
“It’s right next to a park, and you’re right next to a kid's park. It’s a complete safety issue. You have restaurants and businesses, a completely residential area. It has to stop. It’s not safe," said Jessica Sipes, who lives near the artwork.
Bellevue police released information on the three separate incidents.
An image from a traffic camera that captured a suspect who is connected to three vandalism incidents on Bellevue’s Pride art piece. (Courtesy: Bellevue Police Department)
July 14, 2024: At approximately 10:12 p.m., traffic camera footage for the intersection of NE 1st Street and 102nd Avenue NE showed a suspect in a sedan allegedly conducting a 720-degree burnout in a counterclockwise motion over the Pride art piece. Once finished, the suspect sped out of the area, heading eastbound onto NE 1st Street. The city of Bellevue’s Transportation Department estimated the suspect caused about $3,200 in damages.
September 7, 2024: At approximately 4:27 p.m., traffic camera footage showed a suspect in a sedan allegedly conducting a burnout across the Pride art piece. In this incident, the suspect had his windows rolled down and completed the burnout in traffic while pedestrians were crossing the crosswalk. The suspect exited the intersection, heading westbound on NE 1st Street. The city of Bellevue’s Transportation Department estimated the suspect caused about $5,000 in damages.
September 15, 2024:At approximately 7:57 p.m., traffic camera footage showed a suspect in a sedan allegedly conducting a 720-degree burnout in a counterclockwise motion across the intersection. This time, the suspect speeds off in the same direction he was previously traveling, heading eastbound on NE 1st Street. The city of Bellevue’s Transportation Department estimated the suspect caused about $5,337 in damages.
Bellevue police are asking anyone who may have information on these cases to contact Crimestoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
