Issaquah Police Department

Reckless driving isn't a game.

On the night of June 18, 2026, Issaquah Police responded to reports of Teslas doing donuts in the Fred Meyer parking lot while the lot was still busy with shoppers and pedestrians.

When officers arrived, they observed a black Tesla Model 3 sliding through the parking lot with tires squealing and losing traction. The vehicle was identified by distinctive blue underglow lighting and was seen driving in a manner that showed a clear disregard for the safety of others nearby.

The driver was stopped before he could leave the area and was taken into custody for Reckless Driving. During the arrest, officers noted a camera mounted on the vehicle that appeared to be recording, something often used to capture stunts for social media content.

A witness at the scene told officers she was about to call 911 to report the dangerous driving when police arrived.

The vehicle was impounded, and the driver was booked into the Issaquah City Jail before later posting bail.

Parking lots are not racetracks. Reckless driving charges can apply on private property, and dangerous driving behaviors put shoppers, families, and other motorists at risk.

Drive responsibly. One viral video isn't worth someone's life, or a trip to jail.

**Note: On posts like this we often get comments like "I caught this moment live on camera" with a link. These are bots trying to scam you, please do not click on these links.**

Late-Night Charging Stop Leads to Alcohol Citations

At about 10:49 p.m. on the 16th, officers responded to a report of a man drinking a PBR while sitting in the driver’s seat of a Tesla charging at the stations on East Lake Sammamish Parkway SE.

When officers arrived, they found the Tesla and saw two young men getting out and walking away after seeing the officers arriving. Looking inside the vehicle, officers spotted PBR beer cans in both front-door compartments.

The driver initially denied having alcohol in the vehicle but later admitted he had been drinking earlier in the day while golfing. One beer can was nearly empty, and the other was about three-quarters full. Both cans were cold to the touch, and the beer was still foamy when poured out, suggesting they had been opened recently.
The driver agreed to perform standardized field sobriety tests. Officers did not observe any signs of impairment, and the Tesla was turned off, plugged in, and actively charging.

Even though there was no evidence the driver was impaired, both occupants were under the legal drinking age, and alcohol was found in the vehicle. Based on those circumstances, officers had probable cause to cite both individuals for Minor in Possession of Alcohol and Open Container violations.

Both were cited and released at the scene after a parent arrived to take them home and assume control of the vehicle.

**Note: On posts like this we often get comments like "I caught this moment live on camera" with a link. These are bots trying to scam you, please do not click on these links.**

Teamwork Leads to Safe Felony Arrest

Just after 1:30 a.m. over the weekend, what began as an assist request from a neighboring agency resulted in a coordinated felony arrest in Issaquah.

Officers were notified that a suspect wanted by Seattle Police for Domestic Violence Felony Harassment had reportedly fled to an address in Issaquah following an incident involving threats with a weapon. An Issaquah officer located the suspect vehicle and coordinated with additional officers as they monitored the parked vehicle.

A short time later, the suspect left the residence and drove away. Officers observed several traffic violations and signs of impaired driving, including repeated lane departures and difficulty maintaining a lane. Additional officers responded, and a vehicle stop was conducted near Newport Way and Maple Street.

Using coordinated de-escalation tactics, officers safely took the suspect into custody without incident. The suspect was later transferred to Seattle Police for booking on the domestic violence-related charges. The vehicle was impounded, and a separate charge of Negligent Driving 1st Degree was forwarded to the Issaquah City Prosecutor.

**Note: On posts like this we often get comments of "I caught this moment live on camera" with a link. These are bots trying to scam you, please do not click on these links.**

Following a nationwide recruitment and competitive interview process, City of Issaquah Mayor Mark Mullet announced his selection of Stephen L. Mylett as the next Issaquah Police Department Chief, pending successful completion of background checks and City Council confirmation on June 29.

“I’m excited to bring Steve to Issaquah. With his many years of experience, I’m confident he will do an outstanding job in our community, leading our excellent police department, and working closely with our regional partners,” said Mayor Mullet.

Mylett brings more than 35 years of law enforcement experience to the role, including as Chief of Police for four different communities across the country: Akron, Ohio; Bellevue, Washington; Southlake, Texas; and Worthington, Ohio.

More: bit.ly/43ZmBmD

THE CASE OF THE GREAT JERKY HEIST

On Sunday night, Issaquah officers responded to a report of a robbery in progress at a gas station on NW Gilman Boulevard.

Fortunately, it turned out to be much less serious than initially reported. There were no weapons, no force, and no injuries. The only thing taken was about $14 worth of beef jerky.

According to the investigation, an intoxicated woman entered the store and purchased a small bottle of alcohol. She then allegedly tried to leave with a pair of gloves without paying. After an employee stopped her and recovered the gloves, she apparently decided she wasn't leaving empty-handed.

Instead, she grabbed several packages of beef jerky from the checkout area and walked out of the store without paying.

The suspect left on foot. And by "on foot," I mean barefoot.

Officers were given a description and, a short time later, located a barefoot woman matching that description walking through Confluence Park.

She was cited for 3rd Degree Theft, issued a trespass notice from the business, and transported to the hospital due to her extreme level of intoxication.

We'd like to thank the store employee for staying calm, providing clear information to dispatchers and officers, and helping bring the incident to a quick and safe resolution.

No injuries. No weapons. No dramatic pursuit. Just a late-night beef jerky adventure.

May 2026 Calls for Service Spotlight. Our dispatch center received 4298 calls this month:

Compared to April:
Burglary - No change
Thefts - Increased by 13
Assaults - Increased by 2
Vehicle Theft - Increased by 3
Accidents - Increased by 6
DUI Arrests - Increased by 2

As a reminder, Traffic Stops are not part of the calls that the dispatch center received. They are officer initiated.

On May 27, 2026 at 8:09 a.m. officers with the Issaquah Police Department and personnel from Eastside Fire & Rescue were dispatched to the trailhead parking lot near East Sunset Way and 6th Avenue NE following a report of an unresponsive female inside a vehicle who was not breathing.

Upon arrival, Issaquah officers found Eastside Fire & Rescue already on scene performing lifesaving measures. Despite those efforts, the victim did not respond to medical intervention and was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Detectives responded and conducted an initial investigation. At this time, the incident appears to be the result of a medical event.

The King County Medical Examiner’s Office will release the identity of the 41-year-old female from Wenatchee, as well as the official cause and manner of death, following completion of their investigation.

This remains an active investigation as detectives continue to gather information.