Man arrested after fake 911 call results in Bellevue officer being stabbed

Police Officer Ambushed in Bellevue Transit Center Attack

A man has been charged after allegedly luring two police officers to a transit center in Bellevue, Washington, with a fake 911 call and then ambushing them. Details from the documents outline the events surrounding the attack, which occurred at approximately 12:25 p.m. on Friday.

The suspect, identified as 38-year-old Mohamed Moleh Bangura, spoke calmly with the officers at first, reportedly pointing out an argument related to the call. However, things escalated quickly when he pulled out a kitchen knife from his jacket pocket.

According to the indictment, Bangura attacked one officer with an ice pick-like thrust. When that officer managed to dodge the attack, he then slashed another officer on the face, stabbing him multiple times as he fell. The officer sustained serious injuries, including a 6-inch laceration, a dislocated shoulder, and a broken collarbone.

The second officer, unharmed, fired six shots, hitting Bangura three times in different areas before both officers retreated, as per reports.

Bangura now faces charges of first-degree assault with a deadly weapon enhancement and second-degree assault with a deadly weapon enhancement. The prosecutorial documents mention that he had been living in Seattle, but there were previous police encounters suggesting he’d been found sleeping at a local church near the transit center.

Interestingly, before the attack, Bangura expressed hostility towards the Bellevue Police Department, which complicates the narrative even further. He allegedly threatened a security guard at the church over being asked to leave, leading to reports being filed.

Prosecutors remarked on the troubling nature of the ambush, indicating that Bangura armed himself rather than allow the situation to unfold normally. They noted that he was unaware that he was assaulting unsuspecting officers responding to a purported domestic violence call.

The charges, particularly the first-degree assault, stem from the knife attack on the officer, while the second-degree charge pertains to the other officer who was threatened but didn’t suffer physical harm. Washington state law recognizes that assault can occur without physical contact or injury.