3 explosives found, 2 arrested after DUI incident leads to I-90 closure for hours

BELLEVUE, Washington – Two men are in custody after a DUI stop turned into an explosive investigation that left Interstate 90 closed for an extended period of time.

Bellevue Police Officers responded to the 3500 block of 108th Ave at approximately 10:36 a.m. after receiving reports of a previously stolen black Mercedes sedan parked in a parking lot with the driver and a passenger asleep.

When officers arrived, they noticed that two middle-aged men were in possession of drugs. Officers then suspected that a drink-driving incident had occurred. With this suspicion in mind, the police woke up the driver who fled the scene.

All four tires on the vehicle were punctured by police, but the men continued to elude authorities. The vehicle was traveling approximately 5 mph after being struck, according to police.

Police said the suspect went under I-90, turned onto eastbound SE 34th Street, turned left onto northbound 113th Ave SE and then headed south on Bellevue Way before merging onto I-90 West .

At this point, the Washington State Patrol joined in to assist Bellevue police.

The passenger in the vehicle attempted to flee the vehicle while traveling on the interstate, but police quickly apprehended him.

After arresting the passenger, the Washington State Patrol used a PIT maneuver while traveling approximately 3 mph to disable the vehicle just west of Exit 8. Police said the driver allegedly fled the vehicle and headed west toward the overpass of Mercer Island, which led to a foot chase.

As officers approached the suspect, he turned toward them with a blowtorch and an explosive device in his possession. When the suspect attempted to light the device, Bellevue police officers knocked him down and took him into custody.

I-90 was immediately closed due to the explosive device. Bomb squads from the Bellevue Police Department, Washington State and King County Patrol, as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) were called to the scene.

Two other explosive devices were found inside the vehicle.

The driver was arrested for possession of an explosive device, multiple counts of assault, driving under the influence, possession of a stolen vehicle and eluding law enforcement.

The passenger was arrested on previously existing felony warrants.

The suspects were transferred to Overlake Medical Center for evaluation. Both will be booked into the King County Jail once they are medically cleared.