Judge finds probable cause to hold Kent man for kidnapping girl

A King County Superior Court judge found probable cause for kidnapping and set bail at $250,000 for a 4o-year-old Kent man under investigation for kidnapping a 6-year-old girl at a Kent apartment complex.

Hayder Albu Mohammed made his first court appearance on Thursday, July 18 after Kent Police arrested him July 16 at the Meridian Green Townhomes apartment complex, 11305 SE Kent-Kangley Road, where he and the girl live.

“King County prosecutors asked for him to be held on $250,000 bail because of the danger to the community,” according to a July 18 statement from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. “The court heard from both prosecutors and defense, found probable cause for kidnapping, and set bail at $250,000.”

As of July 18, Albu Mohammed remained in custody at the King County Correctional Facility in Seattle, according to jail records.

Prosecutors anticipate getting a case referral from Kent Police by Friday, July 19, and prosecutors can make a charging decision when that case is received, according to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

According to the probable cause documents, Albu Mohammed reportedly grabbed the girl tightly by the wrist and began walking toward his apartment, according to video of the incident watched by an officer. Many children were in the parking lot of the apartment complex after an ice cream truck arrived.

Three 11-year-old girls confronted the man and asked him if he knew the girl, according to probable cause documents. Albu Mohammed then put the girl up on his shoulder and tried to walk away. He put the girl down after the three girls asked him if he was related to the girl. The man said yes but the girl nodded her head no.

The three girls were able to grab the girl and take her back to her parents apartment. An officer wrote that from the video it was obvious Albu Mohammed allegedly tried to forcefully take the girl and that she was being held against her will. The three witnesses agreed.

As officers began to take Albu Mohammed into custody, he reportedly told them he asked the young girl to help him with his prayer beads and he didn’t do anything wrong, according to probable cause documents. When he found out officers were going to arrest him for investigation of second-degree kidnapping, he said he did not talk to the girl.

Officers noted that Albu Mohammed had defensive scratches on both of his arms, reportedly indicating that the girl tried to fight him off, according to probable cause documents.

The girl told officers that the man tried to steal her and take her back to his house, according to probable cause documents. When shown a picture of Albu Mohammed, the parents of the girl said they did not know the man and he was not related to the girl.

The girl was visually upset and appeared to still be scared from the encounter, according to probable cause documents.