Man Accused Of Breaking Into Home, Threatening Residents With Chain Saw

A 45-year-old man arrested Wednesday was one of four people suspected of breaking into a home and threatening the residents with their own chain saw, police said.

Three other men - in their late 20s and early 30s - escaped on foot when officers arrived at the scene, said King County Sheriff’s spokesman David Robinson.

The man was to be booked for investigation of burglary, Robinson said.

Officers received a 911 call around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday when residents of another house reported seeing two men with stocking caps running across their yard, Robinson said. The residents also reported seeing a black van idling outside their house.

A short time later, at least three men broke into a nearby house and menaced the residents with a chain saw they found in the home, Robinson said.

The men tried unsuccessfully to start the power tool before tying the couple up, he said.

The robbers fled when officers began arriving, Robinson said, leaving behind a trail of clothes.

Officers recovered the van, which had been stolen from the Seattle Police Department.