Bellevue police lieutenant fires gun while responding to domestic disturbance; no one hit



BELLEVUE -- A 36-year-old Bellevue police lieutenant fired one shot while responding to a domestic disturbance Friday night, but no one was hit. The bullet struck a nearby parked car, police said.

The incident occurred in the 1200 block of 151st Place Southeast shortly after 6:20 p.m, when officers responded to a domestic disturbance call, spokesman Seth Tyler said.

The suspect, who reportedly had been fighting with his wife, was yelling at the officers in the street, neighbors said.

There was a brief foot chase of the suspect by the police when the officer, a 12-year veteran with the Bellevue Police Department, fired his weapon.

Police said they later found on the street a pellet gun with the barrel drilled out to resemble a real gun. It was found in the area where the foot chase took place, police said.

The "weapon involved" in Friday night's officer-involved shooting -- a pellet gun that resembles a real gun, Bellevue police say. (Photo: Bellevue Police Dept.)



The officer was placed on paid administrative leave, which is usual procedure, pending a shooting investigation. King County Sheriff's Office is investigating.

The suspect in the domestic disturbance was taken into custody, Tyler said.