A 21-year-old man followed a Mercer Island woman, 22, off a Metro bus after 3:25 p.m. in the 8600 block of S.E. 44th Street on Friday, Dec. 2. The woman was going home. Shortly after exiting the bus, the male approached the woman and demanded her phone and wallet. He said that he didn’t want to hurt her, but claimed he had a gun and would shoot her if she did not comply. The suspect implied that he had a gun with his hand in the pocket of his sweatshirt, but never displayed one.

When the woman did not comply with the suspect’s demands, the suspect grabbed the victim and attempted to reach into her jacket pockets. During the struggle, the victim fell to the ground. She unsuccessfully attempted to kick the suspect in the groin, but she was able to escape the scene and get home. The suspect fled north on 86th Avenue S.E.

MIPD officers responded to the scene after receiving a call from the victim and an independent witness who saw the altercation occur. A K-9 search identified the suspect’s route. Patrol conducted an investigation, placed a call to Metro Transit and gave them a description of the suspect. Metro Transit then informed police that the suspect was on a bus still on Mercer Island, a short time later. Officers reached the bus and detained the suspect without incident.

The victim and independent witness positively identified the suspect. Two collateral witnesses who had seen the suspect in the area approximately two blocks from the incident location also identified the suspect. The victim was not hurt and the suspect, a Seattle resident, was booked into the King County Jail on investigation of first degree robbery.

No guns were recovered from the suspect or anywhere along his route.

The suspect was conditionally released from King County Jail the next day. Charges with the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s office are pending.