Bellevue Police Say Woman Fends off Attacker with Pepper Spray

 say a woman fended off an attacker with pepper spray after she got off a bus at Lakemont Boulevard and Newport Way in the Cougar Mountain neighborhood, Friday night.

Bellevue police released a sketch of the suspect Tuesday morning and ask the public for help if they recognize the person.

The 23-year-old woman told police that she got off a bus near Lakemont Boulevard and Newport Way around 11:30 p.m. Friday night, and as soon as she got off the bus, a man who was also on the bus suddenly exited the bus too and began to follow her on foot, police said.

The man grabbed the woman from behind and attempted to drag her away from the roadway, police said.

The man punched her several times in her face and then threw her to the ground, but the victim was able to retrieve her pepper spray from her pocket and sprayed the suspect, prompting the suspect to flee, police said.

A K-9 track was unsuccessful in locating the suspect. There was no surveillance camera in the bus. 

Both the victim and the Metro bus driver described the suspect as a noticeably pale, white male in his mid-twenties, about 5’7” thin build, with a shaved head, thin mustache, wearing a white polo shirt with brown horizontal stripes and baggy blue jeans, police said.

The attached sketch was created by the Bellevue Police Department sketch artist. If anyone recognizes this person, please call 9-1-1 immediately. 

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