A 19-year-old Redmond female entered the Bear Creek Village Safeway on Monday morning carrying at least one knife and a backpack and wearing a mask and a hooded sweatshirt over her face.
At 10:10 a.m., the woman was behaving suspiciously and told staff to leave. Redmond Police Department (RPD) spokesperson officer Julie Beard said they did just that and then called 911.
“Someone told us to get out … evacuate,” said one female Safeway employee who was inside the store.
She was one of about 30 Safeway and Starbucks employees who spent late Monday morning and early afternoon outside while RPD cleared the building, which they deemed safe at 12:36 p.m.
“The female damaged property inside the store and also left a backpack on a store aisle, prompting officers to request the Bellevue Police Bomb Squad and King County Sheriff’s Office bomb canine unit to respond to the scene,” Beard said.
Beard said the Bellevue Police Bomb Squad cleared the woman’s backpack.
“The bomb dog did not (put an) alert on it,” Beard said.
The suspect was arrested and is currently in custody at an area hospital, and Beard said they are looking into possible mental issues.
Officers apprehended the female inside the store, safely taking her into custody by shooting her with a bean bag projectile in the upper arm, Beard said. The female received minor injuries during the arrest.
No employees, customers or officers were injured on the call.
In addition to the Safeway, RPD evacuated most of the east side of the shopping center. Beard said some businesses on the other side of Bear Creek Village were evacuated, as well, while some chose to close.
Employees at the Safeway — along with the Starbucks inside the grocery store — at 17246 Redmond Way in the shopping center were allowed to re-enter the building at 12:36 p.m. The store reopened at 1:30 p.m.
Before people were allowed back into the building, officers were stationed at each of the entrances into Safeway and there were police cars blocking entrance lanes into the shopping complex parking lot. After the building was cleared, one RPD officer exited the building with a rifle in his hands, pointed downwards.
An assistant manager at Safeway informed employees it was safe to go back into the building, but said they were not allowing customers in yet.
Two Safeway employees were stationed at the store entrances to let people know what was happening.
“Store’s closed. There was a bomb threat,” one of the employees told a customer trying to enter the store. “We’re still cleaning up, sorry.”
At around 1 p.m., Beard said surrounding businesses were open.
According to Beard, the initial investigation shows that the female may have recently behaved similarly in other area stores. Detectives are determining which of multiple potential charges will be filed.
ORIGINAL POST:
Employees at the Safeway — along with the Starbucks inside the grocery store — at 17246 Redmond Way in the Bear Creek Village shopping center were allowed to re-enter the building at 12:36 p.m. Monday after the store was evacuated earlier in the day. The store reopened at about 1:30 p.m.
The building was evacuated Monday morning after a 19-year-old woman entered the store at 10:10 a.m. with two knives and told staff to leave.
Redmond Police Department (RPD) spokesperson officer Julie Beard said the woman, who was either wearing a mask or had painted her face, also brought in a backpack, which was cleared by the Bellevue Police Bomb Squad.
“The bomb dog did not (put an) alert on it,” Beard said.
Once the suspect entered the store and told staff to leave, Beard said they did just that and then called 911.
“Someone told us to get out…evacuate,” said one female Safeway employee who was inside the store.
She was one of about 30 Safeway and Starbucks employees who spent late Monday morning and early afternoon outside while RPD cleared the building.
The suspect has been arrested and is currently in RPD custody and Beard said they are looking into possible mental issues.
In addition to the Safeway, RPD evacuated most of the east side of the shopping center. Beard said some businesses on the other side of Bear Creek Village were evacuated as well, while some chose to close.
Before people were allowed to re-enter the building, officers were stationed at each of the entrances into Safeway and there were police cars blocking entrance lanes into the shopping complex parking lot. After the building was cleared, one RPD officer exited the building with a rifle in his hands, pointed downwards.
An assistant manager at Safeway was the one to inform employees it was safe to go back into the building, but said they were not allowing customers in yet.
Two Safeway employees were stationed at the store entrances to let people know what was happening.
“Store’s closed. There was a bomb threat,” one of the employees told a customer trying to enter the store. “We’re still cleaning up, sorry.”
