Seattle police arrested two people Monday after an officer spotted a stolen vehicle in Ballard and later found it abandoned and running in a driveway.
According to the Seattle Police Department, an officer was patrolling the 700 block of NW 65th Street at about 2:28 p.m. Sept. 1 when he noticed a Mercedes without a front license plate. Police said the vehicle was occupied by a 35-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman.
The officer followed the Mercedes as it turned onto 7th Avenue NW and checked its rear license plate, which police said did not belong to the vehicle.
When the officer activated his emergency lights and siren, the Mercedes continued through the neighborhood and exceeded the speed limit by more than 20 mph near a school zone, according to SPD. The officer then turned off his emergency equipment and lost sight of the vehicle.
Police later found the two occupants walking near NW 56th Street toward 8th Avenue NW and NW Market Street. Additional officers responded and detained them.
Police said officers found a handgun without a serial number in the woman’s possession. She told officers that the man had given it to her to hold. Officers initially took her to King County Jail on a warrant and for investigation of unlawful firearm possession, but the jail declined to book her after she reported that the man had assaulted her.
She was taken to Harborview Medical Center for an evaluation and later released by police.
The man told officers that he had ingested narcotics, according to SPD. Seattle Fire Department medics evaluated him before he was taken to Northwest Hospital for a medical screening. Police said he was expected to be booked into King County Jail after receiving medical clearance.
The man is expected to be booked for investigation of eluding and unlawful firearm possession. Police said he also had warrants totaling $15,000 for possession of a stolen vehicle and eluding, as well as warrants related to sexual assault and felony harassment. Additional charges related to sexual assault and felony harassment are expected, according to SPD.
Officers later found the stolen Mercedes in the 5500 block of 7th Avenue NW. Police said it had been left running in a driveway. Officers reported finding narcotics, credit cards bearing different names, a police-style Taser and other property inside.
Photo: 5500 block of 7th Ave NW, where the vehicle was found / Google Image Capture