Bellevue Police Shooting: Seattle Forum Will Air Concerns

The neighborhood where Bellevue SWAT officers shot and killed a man will hold a meeting to discuss their concerns about the way the Bellevue and Seattle police departments handled the incident, according to a Facebook event posting and Seattle alternative paper, The Stranger.

On March 22, Russell Smith, 51, was shot and killed by the Bellevue SWAT officers as investigators were attempted to serve warrants at a home in Seattle on Smith and another man in a string of robberies in Bellevue.

Bellevue Police Department officers were in Seattle because the robberies being investigated took place in Bellevue.

According to the Facebook page about the upcoming event:

The agenda will focus on three topic areas --- prevention, incident
management and crisis management. What could have been done to prevent this incident? How could the immediate situation been managed better? And what's the response and support for communities in the aftermath?

We will have a few neighbors share their experience. We have a list of questions we are presenting as a community. And we have requests and suggestions for how to improve communications from our perspective.

The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. April 22, at the Columbia City Church of Hope, 3818 S. Angeline St. in Seattle's Columbia City neighborhood.

According to The Stranger, meeting organizers say that attendees will include Bellevue Police Chief Linda Pillo, Seattle Police Department South Precinct captain Steven Paulsen, the president and deputy mayor of the Seattle City Council and Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes.

According to the initial report by the Seattle Police Department, which is investigating the shooting, Smith was in a car outside the home near 43rd Avenue S and S Hudson Street, when he started to drive and three Bellevue officers at the scene shot Smith. The Seattle Police Department said the officers were concerned that that Smith would run them over with the Mercedes.

The Bellevue officers involved are Casey Hiam, Jacob Bement and Jacob Childers.

Neighbors in the Columbia City neighborhood told The Stranger that the early morning raid on the home also resulted in damage to the home and other homes nearby, torn up lawns, people who were late for work because they could not leave and a lack of communication between the police agencies present and the neighbors. 

Online

Facebook: SAVE THE DATE : What Went Terribly Wrong – The SWAT Team shooting on 43rd Avenue South

The Stranger: Columbia City Residents Hosting Meeting on Bellevue Police Shooting in Their Neighborhood

Previous coverage:

Bellevue Police Chief Releases Additional Details in Fatal Officer-Involved Shooting

 Bellevue Police Fatally Shoot Robbery Suspect