Kidnapping suspect arrested after chase in Kent
KENT, Wash. - Kent police arrested a 33-year-old Kent man, who was suspected of kidnapping, after a brief chase Tuesday night.
At about 8 p.m., officers responded to a report of "suspicious circumstances" in the 1200 block of West Smith Street.
According to police, a young person reported what they believed to be a domestic violence incident with a man assaulting and possibly kidnapping a woman.
"That youth had the courage to call and let us know that they were watching something bad occur," said Chief Rafael Padilla of the Kent Police Department.
When police arrived, they found the car and tried to pull the driver over.
Police said there was enough information to develop probable cause for kidnapping, which allowed officers to pursue the car.
Padilla said the credit for saving the woman’s life goes to the young person and their descriptive details of the attack.
"Forcing the female in the trunk of the car, her yelling for help and the audible things that are recorded to us, the type of vehicle, the direction of travel coupled with the officer going, proximity, location, high rate of speed, fleeing in the area. All of that combined gets us to probable cause. Otherwise, the officer would not be allowed under the law to pursue," said Padilla. "My genuine concern was if we had not intervened, she would be dead today."
When the driver refused to pull over, an officer pursued the car and was able to stop the suspect with his patrol car using a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT).
Police arrested the suspect without incident and he was booked for kidnapping and eluding.
According to investigators, the victim was found safe.
This was an example of domestic violence incidents the YWCA works fearlessly to help women out of.
"We really want the survivors to know that they have options and there are resources that will support them in the process," said Doris O’Neal, director of the YWCA Gender-Based Violence Specialized Services. "You’re not alone. We are here, there are services that can support you through this process. There’s no reason to feel shame, it’s not your fault. You didn’t do anything wrong."
Padilla said what was done right in this case was the young person seeing something and saying something. It was an action Padilla encouraged everyone in the community to follow.
"There’s a civic responsibility to each other. If good people don’t stand up against things that are wrong then those wrong things just become more prevalent in our society," said Padilla.
The police chief said the department plans to recognize the young person who made the call that helped save the woman’s life.
Survivors of domestic violence are encouraged to call or text the YWCA Helpline any time at 877-757-8297.