Two arrested, explosives found during DUI stop that snarled traffic, closed I-90 in Washington State

The Bellevue police arrived at the 3500 block of 108th Ave at 10:36 am to investigate reports of a stolen black Mercedes sitting in a parking lot with the engine running and the driver and one passenger fast asleep. The officers allegedly discovered drugs after an initial inspection of the scene and believed the occupants of the car were operating the vehicle while under the influence. But when they roused the driver from his slumber, he drove off.

He didn’t drive off very quickly, as the officers had spiked all four of his tires. But even driving at a reported 5 mph, he managed to evade the authorities. Police say he then made a quick series of turns before merging onto I-90 West. The Washington State Patrol subsequently joined the pursuit along with the local police.

When he knew he wasn’t going to outpace police cars, the driver evacuated the vehicle and tried to escape on foot and was nabbed by police, but not before he attempted to fend off his pursuers with a blow torch that he managed to light, according to a local Fox News affiliate. The cops raced the suspect and knocked him to the ground just as he got the torch functioning.

The interstate highway was closed as soon as the altercation began and the explosive device was spotted. Police found two other explosive devices in the car, prompting the arrival of bomb squads from the Bellevue Police Department, Washington State Patrol, and King County and crews from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Police arrested and charged the driver for possession of an explosive device, multiple counts of assault one, driving under the influence, possession of a stolen vehicle, and eluding law enforcement. There was already an existing arrest warrant for the passenger. The pair went to the hospital for assessment and will be forwarded to the King County Jail for booking.