Kent Police arrested a 39-year-old man for investigation of attempted kidnapping and domestic violence assault after he allegedly attacked his wife with metal poles in a hotel parking lot and tried to drag her to his vehicle.
Officers responded at about 6:24 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 to the Quality Inn in the 1700 block of West Meeker Street in response to 911 calls about a man assaulting a woman in the parking lot, according to a Sept. 30 Kent Police news release. The callers said the man was leaving in a red Toyota Camry and provided the license plate of the vehicle.
An officer arrived quickly and contacted a 36-year-old Kent woman, and multiple bystanders. While the woman was being treated by Puget Sound Fire personnel, he learned that she had been in a fight with her husband, according to police. She left their home to avoid being further assaulted and stayed in a hotel for the night.
But the husband located her in the hotel parking lot and reportedly ran towards her holding two metal poles, and struck her in her shin. He then allegedly grabbed her clothing and hair and began to drag her towards his vehicle. She stated that he struck her a few times with a metal pole and his hands while yelling at her to get into the vehicle.
Bystanders in the parking lot yelled at the suspect and moved near the woman to prevent the husband from taking her. The business provided video evidence of the crime which reportedly confirmed the woman and witnesses details of the assault and attempted kidnapping, according to police.
Another officer was en route to the call when he saw a red Toyota Camry (with the reported license plate number) headed east on West Meeker Street. He stated that the vehicle stopped quickly, and the only occupant began to exit the driver’s side. Two more officers arrived to assist, and the man was detained without further incident. The man reportedly gave a description of the incident that did not match the description given by the victim or the witnesses. His version also did not match the surveillance video.
The metal poles were reportedly inside the man’s vehicle, clearly visible through the window. The car was sealed and towed pending a search warrant to confiscate the poles.
Paramedics treated the woman at the scene and she did not need to go to the hospital. Officers contacted a Project Be Free representative who spoke with the woman about helping her with services.
“A big thank you to the bystanders who didn’t just stand by,” according to a police statement. “Your actions undoubtedly saved this victim from additional assaults.”
Domestic violence resources
• Domestic Abuse Women’s Network: dawnrising.org
• Project Be Free: project-be-free.com
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