Kent Police on Saturday arrested a 21-year-old Kent man for investigation of indecent exposure and child molestation in connection with a Dec. 16 incident along a trail near Kent-Meridian High School.
Police arrested the man at his East Hill home near the trail. He remained in custody Monday at the city of Kent jail. Police also arrested the man for investigation of possession of marijuana.
King County District Court Judge Corinna Harn set bail Monday at $100,000 for the man because he has an arrest record and is a risk to public safety, according to probable cause documents.
King County prosecutors are expected to file charges by the end of this week against the man.
Police started to investigate the case after a Kent-Meridian girl reported that a man naked from the waist down jumped out and grabbed her as she walked to school along a trail in a wooded area north of French Field.
The student broke free from the man and reported the incident to a teacher and Kent-Meridian Safety Services.
Detectives discovered after numerous interviews with other students and individuals near the trail that the man reportedly has engaged in lewd conduct as many as seven other times in the neighborhood since August, said Kent Police Sgt. Bob Burwell. The man allegedly has been seen in various stages of nudity on or near the trail.
“There have been other sightings and some saw him more than once,” Burwell said in a phone interview Monday.
But most of those other cases were not reported to police.
“We are looking for additional victims,” Burwell said.
Anyone with information connected to this case can call the Kent Police at 253-856-5800.
Police had a local sketch artist make a composite drawing of the man to help develop leads.
Members of the Kent Police Neighborhood Response Team as well as detectives from the major crimes unit worked to track down the man, Burwell said.
“Fortunately, the girl was able to get away and was not hurt,” Burwell said.
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