Lake Forest Park residents in the middle of a police man hunt

Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Diane Hettrick

Some Lake Forest Park residents ended up in the middle of a police drama Sunday night and into Monday morning.

Police and K9 officers blocked roads, searched back yards and green belts, splashed through the stream, and ran intermittent bursts on sirens.

Residents listened to police scanners and watched the action from their bedroom windows. Some tried to investigate in person and were politely turned back by officers.

Police vehicles from Shoreline and Lake Forest Park saturated the area. One resident counted ten vehicles on her street.

The activity lasted until 2am. At 4am a police vehicle was still parked in the area.

It all started at 11pm Sunday night.

A Metro Transit deputy saw a Dodge Charger being driven recklessly on Ballinger Way NE near I-5. The vehicle continued eastbound on Ballinger and the deputy lost sight of it so he did not pursue.

The deputy continued eastbound on Ballinger. When he came to 40th Ave NE and Ballinger Way he saw the vehicle in the middle of the road with a damaged tire.

Apparently the driver had lost control of the car and hit a curb hard enough to severely damage a wheel. It sounded like an explosion to nearby residents.

As the deputy approached the car, the driver tried to drive off, but the tire and wheel were so badly damaged he could not go very far.  The car made it about 35 yards. Then the driver jumped out of the car and ran. No one else was in the car.

The driver was a light-skinned African American male, about 5'9".

A gun was found in the car on the floorboard, but it was not stolen. The car was not stolen either. The owner had lent it to her brother.

It is unknown at this time if the suspect is the brother.