Current:Home > Finance'We are so proud of you': 3 pre-teens thwart man trying to kidnap 6-year-old girl -WealthSync Hub
'We are so proud of you': 3 pre-teens thwart man trying to kidnap 6-year-old girl
View
Date:2025-04-19 06:07:11
Three Washington girls are being hailed as heroes after they stopped the attempted kidnapping of a 6-year-old girl.
Police got a 911 call about a man abducting a young girl at an apartment complex in the Seattle suburb of Kent just after 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to the Kent Police Department.
Police said a witness told 911 dispatchers that they had witnessed the man picking up the young girl while she screamed and that the man did not appear to be a relative. The eyewitness gave officers a detailed description of the man.
When officers arrived at the scene, they quickly found a man matching the description. He tried to flee but officers quickly detained him, they said.
Soon after police learned about the pivotal actions of three 11-year-old girls who had been there, saying in a news release that the girls showed "selfless bravery" and "stepped in without pause" to help the 6-year-old.
Man used ice cream truck to lure children in the complex, police said
Witnesses told police that an ice cream truck had entered the apartment complex, attracting a group of children.
As three pre-teen girls were headed to the truck to buy some treats, they noticed a man holding the wrist of their 6-year-old neighbor, police said.
The 6-year-old’s brother, who was nearby, called to the girl to come to him but she could not break the man's hold, police said.
"The girls stated she looked afraid, and the man appeared to be pulling her forcibly along," police said. "They could hear her telling the man to let her go. They began to follow because it was obvious to them that she was trying to get away and they were sure he did not know the victim."
Girls work together to stop attempted kidnapping
Using their phones, the girls began to record the man, telling him to leave the younger girl alone, police said.
The man picked up the 6-year-old girl and tried to “speed walk” away from them, police said, but the girls kept following him. They asked the man if he knew the girl and he said he did but the girl shook her head no, police said.
Police said the man then put the girl on the ground and began to run away. The girls took the 6-year-old back to safety and her parents confirmed that the suspect was a stranger.
Missing teen found safe:14-year-old Utah girl missing 2 weeks in Mexico found safe; uncle facing kidnapping charge
Man detained and faces kidnapping charges
Police said that the suspect is a 40-year-old local man and that he was arrested on kidnapping charges and booked at 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,” the police department said in a statement. “We are so proud of you. You are amazing.”
USA TODAY reached out to Kent Police Department but have not heard back yet.
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the National Trending Team at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking news, car recalls, crime, health, lottery and public policy stories. Email her at aforbes@gannett.com. Follow her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- McKinsey to pay $650 million after advising opioid maker on how to 'turbocharge' sales
- The 10 Best Sexy Perfumes That’ll Immediately Score You a Second Date
- Biden weighs move to unlock legal status for some unauthorized immigrants
- Some California officials can meet remotely. For local advisory boards, state lawmakers say no
- What to watch: O Jolie night
- Eastern Ohio voters are deciding who will fill a congressional seat left vacant for months
- Union: 4 Florida police officers indicted for 2019 shootout that left UPS driver and passerby dead
- Billy Ray Cyrus Claims Fraud in Request For Annulment From Firerose Marriage
- Don't let hackers fool you with a 'scam
- Older worker accuses defense contractor of discriminating by seeking recent college grads
Ranking
- Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
- Brad Stevens has built Boston Celtics team capable of winning multiple NBA Finals
- NBA mock draft: Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr remain 1-2; Reed Sheppard climbing
- It Ends With Us’ Justin Baldoni Is “On the Mend” After Being Hospitalized With Infection
- Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie return for an 'Encore,' reminisce about 'The Simple Life'
- Usain Bolt suffers ruptured Achilles during charity soccer match in London
- An Oregon man was stranded after he plummeted off an embankment. His dog ran 4 miles to get help.
- Rising costs for youth sports represents a challenge for families in keeping children active
Recommendation
Retirement planning: 3 crucial moves everyone should make before 2025
Horoscopes Today, June 9, 2024
Florida jury finds Chiquita Brands liable for Colombia deaths, must pay $38.3M to family members
Biden weighs move to unlock legal status for some unauthorized immigrants
Krispy Kreme offers a free dozen Grinch green doughnuts: When to get the deal
A weird 7-foot fish with a face only a mother could love washed ashore in Oregon – and it's rarer than experts thought
Ashlee Simpson and Evan Ross Make Rare Red Carpet Appearance With All 3 Kids
S&P 500, Nasdaq post record closing highs; Fed meeting, CPI ahead