Police: 2 arrested in Bellevue hate crime assault, robbery

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Officers arrested two suspects after an assault and robbery Tuesday in Bellevue.

Police said a 35-year-old woman was walking on 148th Avenue Northeast when the suspects allegedly called her a terrorist and told her to go back home. The woman is a recent immigrant from India.

According to investigators, the suspects assaulted her, demanded her wallet and called her a terrorist again.

After a witness approached to help the victim to help and verbal exchange, the suspects ran away.

The victim had minor injuries.

Officers arrived at the scene and the Bellevue Police Department’s K-9, Ozzy, tracked the suspect through an apartment complex and into bushes.

The two suspects, a 28-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman, were arrested.

“Hate and hate crimes have no place in the city of Bellevue,” said Bellevue Police Chief Steve Mylett.

The suspects were booked on suspicion of robbery, assault and malicious harassment. Investigators said the woman is accused of assaulting an officer.

“We will do whatever it takes to find anyone who’s committed a hate crime, arrest them and build the strongest case possible against them for prosecutors,” Mylett said.

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