Kent Police are thanking three 11-year-old girls for their role in stopping a stranger from reportedly kidnapping a 6-year-old girl from an East Hill apartment complex parking lot.
Officers arrested a 40-year-old Kent man for investigation of kidnapping after the incident at about 8:18 p.m. Tuesday, July 16 at the Meridian Green Townhomes apartment complex, 11305 SE Kent-Kangley Road, according to a July 17 Kent Police Facebook post.
”We want to start this post by acknowledging the selfless bravery of three 11-year-old girls,” according to Kent Police. “They saw their friend and neighbor being taken by a stranger and stepped in without pause to bring her to safety. We are so proud of you. You are amazing.”
Officers responded to the apartment complex regarding a 911 call of a male subject attempting to take a small girl. The caller told 911 that they had witnessed the man picking her up while she screamed and said that the man did not appear to be a relative. Officers were immediately dispatched and arrived quickly at the complex.
The caller gave an excellent description of the man, which allowed two of the first responding officers to locate him as they arrived, according to police. Despite the man’s attempt to hastily walk away, two officers found him in the complex, chased him down and detained him.
While other officers spoke to the man, another officer responded to the witnesses to gather the details to determine what had occurred.
Witnesses said that an ice cream truck had entered the apartment complex just prior to the 911 call, causing many children to flood into the parking areas. The preteen girls were walking towards the truck to buy their treats when they noticed a man holding the wrist of their 6-year-old female neighbor, according to police.
The 6-year-old girl’s young brother was nearby and called to her to come but she was unable to break his hold. The girls said she looked afraid, and the man appeared to be pulling her forcibly along, according to police. They could hear her telling the man to let her go.
The girls began to follow because they said it was obvious to them that she was trying to get away and they were sure he did not know the girl, according to police. The girls started to record with their phones, and without hesitation approached the man to tell him to leave her alone. As they approached, he picked up the child and tried to “speed walk” away.
But the girls persisted, according to police. They confronted the man asking if he knew her and when he said he did, the little girl shook her head side to side to indicate he was lying.
At this point the man put the girl down on the ground and the other girls grabbed her away from the man, who then fled on foot. They took her back to the safety of her apartment. The parents later confirmed to police that the man was a stranger.
Officers arrested the man and booked him into the King County jail.
“The little girl is now safe, the man is in jail, and we are impressed beyond words at the maturity and protectiveness displayed by these preteen girls,” according to police. “Without their intervention, the excellent description of the suspect from the 911 caller, and the swift response by multiple Kent Police officers, the outcome would have changed dramatically.”
Detectives continue to investigate the case. If you were a witness to this crime and have not yet been contacted, email a message to KPDTipLine@kentwa.gov or call 253-856-5808 and leave your information. Refer to Kent case number 24-9823.
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