Issaquah man steals over $100,000 worth of rings, leaves medical card behind

Suspect charged with Bellevue jewelry theft.

By Ashley Hiruko • March 28, 2019 1:30 am

It was a fumble of pocket papers that led Bellevue police to the arrest of an Issaquah man after he allegedly stole about 35 rings valued at more than $183,550.

On Feb. 27, at about 6:16 p.m., officers arrived at Olsen and Sons jewelry store, located inside the Factoria Mall. An employee of the store told police that a white male, later identified by police, had been inside the store for about 30 to 45 minutes, according to police reports.

The suspect told the employee he wanted to view engagement rings valued at $70,000 each. At one point, the suspect asked to view several rings at one time, to compare them. The employee had three trays of rings out for viewing. The majority of the rings were diamond solitaires with silver bands.

The suspect allegedly then grabbed all of the ring trays and bolted for the door. The employee pursued the suspect on foot. And as the suspect ran from the store into the parking lot, papers fell from the suspect’s jacket pocket. The employee later returned to the papers and discovered the suspect’s Amerigroup insurance identification cards. They listed the suspect’s name and date of birth.

The employee and witness positively identified the suspect using a photo on Facebook, after searching for his name on the social media platform, and the man’s address in the 100 block of Southeast Bush Street in Issaquah.

A day later, on Feb. 28, officers with Seattle and Bellevue PD SWAT teams responded to the suspect’s residence and surrounded it. They announced their presence to those inside, and commanded that they exit the home. Three people exited the home, including the suspect’s mother. She told authorities her son and two others were in the RV parked in her backyard.

SWAT officers then commanded they exit the RV. Three people, including the suspect, exited the RV. The suspect was arrested for theft in the first degree.

After a search was conducted on the residence, officers recovered about 35 assorted engagement-style diamond rings. All but one ring had a price label attached.