Kent Police arrest man who reportedly stole vehicle with 2-year-old boy inside

Published 11:00 pm Friday, January 13, 2023

Kent Police arrested a 31-year-old Kent man for investigation of kidnapping and vehicle theft after he allegedly took a vehicle with a 2-year-old boy inside.

As reported Jan. 11 on the Kent Reporter website, a mother told officers that at about 4:15 p.m. on Jan. 8 she left her boy asleep in her vehicle with the keys inside when she went inside to pay for gas at the 7-Eleven at 511 Central Ave. S. When she came out of the store, her vehicle was gone.

Police found the vehicle about an hour later less than a mile away at the Red Lion Inn parking lot, 25100 74th Ave. S., according to police. The boy was inside unharmed. The suspect had fled.

Detectives collected fingerprints and DNA from the vehicle, videos and scoured for additional witnesses, according to a Jan. 13 police statement. They quickly identified the suspect, a 31-year-old Kent man, and deployed resources to find him.

At about 1:30 a.m. Jan. 12, officers spotted the man and took him into custody without incident, according to police.