Trooper Shoots, Kills Driver Who Pulled Knife After Fleeing

Bellevue police are investigating the fatal shooting of a knife-wielding man by a Washington State Patrol trooper.

The trooper saw a car driving erratically Saturday night on Interstate 405 and followed it as it exited the freeway onto Auto Row, police Lt. William Ferguson said.

The trooper stopped the car in the parking lot of a utility company. Two men were inside the vehicle.

The driver, Michael Dries, 38, of Bellevue, could not produce a license but gave a name. The trooper returned to his patrol car to check on the identity but could not verify it.

As the trooper approached the car a second time, Dries got out and ran away, Ferguson said.

As the trooper gave chase, the passenger in the car shouted that Dries had a felony warrant. The trooper caught up with Dries in the parking lot of an auto body shop, about 250 to 300 feet from where the car was stopped.

Dries pulled a knife and told the trooper to stay away or he would kill himself, Ferguson said, and Dries then threatened to kill the trooper.

As Dries approached with the knife, the trooper fired one round, striking him in the chest. Dries was taken to Overlake Hospital a few blocks away. He was declared dead on arrival.

An autopsy was scheduled for today.

The 40-year-old trooper, whose name has not been released, will be placed on administrative duty pending an investigation.