Police: Burglars arrested after fleeing, diving into Lake Washington

SEATTLE — Two suspected burglars were located and arrested by Seattle police -- after fleeing and apparently diving into Lake Washington.

Police were called after a neighbor saw suspicious men loading items from a home into a truck -- along Wolcott Avenue South in the Rainier Beach area.

Officers were able to locate the reported vehicle.

A first vehicle was abandoned by the suspects after it became stuck in the mud.

When officers began following the suspects' car, it started weaving through traffic and eventually crashing through a barrier, rolling down an embankment and coming to rest on top of a parked BMW.

Police said the two suspects fled, apparently diving into nearby Lake Washington.

One “very damp suspect” was located sitting on a bench outside of a magic shop, according to police.

The second suspect was tracked to a condo complex. That is where Barbara Chamberlain ended up coming face-to-face with the suspect, who had apparently pulled the fire alarm.

As condo board president, Chamberlain was helping the firefighters in a mechanical room when she heard a noise.

“I walked down there to see, and there’s a man standing back in the corner,” Chamberlain said.  “So I turn around quickly, I run, trip, drop my phone, lose a shoe, and the fireman turns around and says: ‘What’s the matter, are you alright?’ and I said: ‘I’m fine, but he’s back there!’”

Chamberlain and the firefighter quickly backed out of the room. The suspect, still soaking from the lake, tried to give Chamberlain back her phone.

“I said: ‘thank you,’ and he kind of acted like he was going to come out, and the fireman said: ‘no’ and moved him back in, and shut the door.”

Chamberlain said he was fully clothed when he was locked inside, but by the time police pulled him out he had taken off his pants.

Police said he refused to surrender. They had to force their way into the room to arrest him.  Both suspects were booked into the King County Jail on a variety of charges.

Cox Media Group