Bellevue Police Search for Man Who Followed and Attacked Woman

 say a woman fended off an attacker with pepper spray after she got off a bus at Lakemont Boulevard and Newport Way in the Cougar Mountain neighborhood on Friday night.

Bellevue police released a sketch of the suspect Tuesday morning and ask the public for help if they recognize the person.

The 23-year-old woman told police she got off a bus near Lakemont Boulevard and Newport Way around 11:30 p.m. Friday night and was followed on foot by a man who exited the bus with her.

The man then grabbed the woman from behind and attempted to drag her away from the roadway, police said.

The suspect punched the victim several times in her face and then threw her to the ground, but the woman was able to retrieve her pepper spray from her pocket and sprayed the suspect, prompting him to flee, police said.

A K-9 track was unsuccessful in locating the suspect. There were no surveillance cameras in the bus. 

Both the victim and the Metro bus driver described the suspect as a noticeably pale, white male in his mid-20s, about 5’7” tall with a thin build, a shaved head, and thin mustache. He was wearing a white polo shirt with brown horizontal stripes and baggy blue jeans, police said.

The attached drawing was created by the Bellevue Police Department sketch artist. If anyone recognizes this person, please call 911 immediately. 

—Information from the