A suspect was arrested Wednesday after he led police on a long chase on I-405, across the Eastside and through parts of South Seattle, where he tried to carjack another driver.
It started shortly after 10 a.m. in Bellevue after police were called to a domestic violence incident. Police said a man drove a car into a building trying to get to his former girlfriend inside. She has minor injuries.
When officers arrived, the man fled. Chopper 7 saw the suspect in a black Jeep speeding southbound on Interstate 405 as Bellevue officers followed.
>> PHOTOS: Police chase suspect from Eastside to Seattle
Only Chopper 7 was overhead as the suspect drove through Eastside neighborhoods, then ran lights on Rainier Avenue South in Seattle. During the chase, the suspect drove into oncoming lanes, swerved around traffic and hit other cars as he fled.
When he reached Rainier Avenue South and South 23rd Street, the driver stopped and got out of the battered Jeep, perhaps because of a breakdown. KIRO 7 video showed one of the Jeep's rear tires was blown out and shredded. The Jeep's front end and side were also damaged, perhaps in the earlier crash into the building.
The suspect then ran to a silver minivan stopped at a traffic light, yanked open its door, got in and tried to carjack the driver as police moved in immediately, Chopper video showed.
Officers pulled the victim driver out of the driver's side of the van as others pulled the suspect out from the passenger's side door. Numerous officers took the suspect down to the ground.
He was arrested about 10:50 a.m. and identified as 24-year-old Arik Knapik. See additional details about him in Reporter Graham Johnson's story above.
Bellevue police said he broke down the door of his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, assaulted her and tried to kidnap her. When she escaped to a manager’s office, police said he rammed the building.
He then sideswiped one or two cars near Lake Hills Connector/Richards Road in Bellevue, according to officers.
Bellevue police said they made the decision to pursue the driver because he is wanted on a felony warrant that was serious enough for them to initiate a chase.
Detectives said they are investigating an assault, attempted kidnapping and attempted murder. Watch a recap of the chase below.
RAW VIDEO: Chopper 7 over attempted carjacking, suspect takedown
(Video that includes parts of chase follows below this video).
RAW VIDEO: Chopper 7 over chase, attempted carjacking
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