by Officer Judinna Gulpan

Seattle Police Department

Police arrested five male juvenile suspects on Thursday after they robbed a man in Ballard, fled to Federal Way, and then tried to lose police inside a mall.

At approximately 12:00 p.m., officers responded to a report of an assault in the 6500 block of 15 Avenue Northwest. Police contacted the male victim, who reported the suspects had taken his cell phone, backpack, and other items. The male victim sustained minor injuries. The suspects fled from the scene in two stolen vehicles.  

Officers later attempted to stop the suspects in the Victory Heights neighborhood, but the suspects again fled in the stolen vehicles. King County’s Guardian One helicopter tracked one of the vehicles, a red Kia, southbound on Interstate 5 to Federal Way. There, the Kia driver parked the vehicle at The Commons Mall, and all the suspects fled into the mall. Officers from city and state agencies worked together to secure the mall and notify businesses in the area.  

Police pursued the suspects on foot and were able to take all five into custody without incident.  

The five suspects were later booked into the King County Child and Family Justice Center for robbery.  

Detectives with the General Investigations Unit are now investigating whether this group of teen suspects may also be connected to other police incidents in Seattle, including cases involving stolen vehicles, car prowls and armed robbery.

Thanks to the King County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, and Federal Way Police for assisting in this investigation.