Seattle police arrested a man and a woman on Tuesday after spotting a stolen Mercedes in the Ballard neighborhood and later finding the pair walking away from t
Seattle police arrested a man and a woman on Tuesday after spotting a stolen Mercedes in the Ballard neighborhood and later finding the pair walking away from the vehicle, according to investigators.
On Sept. 1 at about 2:28 p.m., an officer on routine patrol in the 700 block of Northwest 65th Street saw a Mercedes with no front license plate stopped at a traffic light north of 65th Avenue Northwest near Cleopatra Avenue Northwest.
Police said the vehicle was occupied by a 35-year-old man wanted on warrants related to sexual assault and felony harassment, and a 24-year-old female passenger.
Police said the officer followed as the Mercedes accelerated and increased the distance between vehicles.
The officer checked the rear license plate and learned it did not belong to the Mercedes. The officer then activated emergency lights and a siren and continued following as the car turned south on 4th Avenue Northwest.
Police said the car then exceeded 20 mph over the speed limit in a residential neighborhood near a school zone. The officer deactivated emergency equipment and lost sight of the Mercedes, then began checking the area for the suspect vehicle.
While checking the area near Northwest 56th Street, the officer saw the two occupants of the stolen car walking west together toward 8th Avenue Northwest and Northwest Market Street. Additional officers arrived and detained both suspects.
Officers took the woman into custody and found a handgun with no serial number in her possession. Investigators said she told officers the male suspect gave her the gun to hold.
Police initially transported her to King County Jail for booking on a warrant and unlawful possession of a firearm, but she was declined by the jail after she reported that the male suspect had assaulted her.
Officers then transported her to Harborview Medical Center for evaluation. Police said she was identified and released by officers.
When officers took the man into custody, police said he told them he ingested narcotics. Seattle Fire Department medics evaluated him at the scene, and he was transported to the hospital for a medical screening. Police said he will be transported to King County Jail after he is medically cleared.
The male suspect is expected to be booked for investigation of eluding and unlawful possession of a firearm, police said. Investigators said he also has warrants totaling $15,000 for possession of a stolen vehicle and eluding, and additional charges related to sexual assault and felony harassment are expected.
Officers later found the stolen Mercedes in the 5500 block of 7th Avenue Northwest, police said. The vehicle was left running in a driveway. Inside, police said officers found narcotics, credit cards with different names, a police-style Taser and miscellaneous property.
