Bellevue Police nab axe-wielding man who smashed collection agency

Bellevue police last night arrested the man who allegedly smashed the front door of a local collection agency with an axe Tuesday morning. Police responded to multiple 911 calls about the incident around 9:30 a.m. and began searching for the suspect with help from a K9 team and a King County Sheriff's helicopter. A receptionist at the collection agency, located in an office park on the 1100 block of 114th Ave. SE, saw the man hitting the door and side glass panes. Shards of glass flew across the room and hit her. The suspect returned to his workplace in Kent and told coworkers what he had done, police said. Employees heard reports of the incident and called authorities. Detectives arrested the man without incident. He confessed to the crime and showed officers the axe, which was in the bushes by his office, according to police. The suspect also admitted to spray painting the word "shyster" on the street in front of the home of one of the collection agency's employees, police said. Records indicate the man was upset about his wages being garnished, according to police.

June 16, 2010 1:05 pm
A man wielding a heavy axe caused this damage to the front entrance of a Bellevue collection agency Tuesday morning.
A man wielding a heavy axe caused this damage to the front entrance of a Bellevue collection agency Tuesday morning.

Bellevue police last night arrested the man who allegedly smashed the front door of a local collection agency with an axe Tuesday morning.

Police responded to multiple 911 calls about the incident around 9:30 a.m. and began searching for the suspect with help from a K9 team and a King County Sheriff’s helicopter.

A receptionist at the collection agency, located in an office park on the 1400 block of 114th Ave. SE, saw the man hitting the door and side glass panes. Shards of glass flew across the room and hit her.

The suspect returned to his workplace in Kent and told coworkers what he had done, police said. Employees at the aerospace-related company heard reports of the incident and called authorities.

Detectives arrested the man without incident. He confessed to the crime and showed officers the axe, which was in the bushes by his office, according to police.

The suspect also admitted to spray painting the word “shyster” on the street in front of the home of one of the collection agency’s employees, police said.

Records indicate the man was upset about his wages being garnished, according to police. He is in King County Jail and will be charged later this week.