Police release sketch of suspect after thwarted abduction attempt near UW

SEATTLE -- Police released this sketch of a man who tried to abduct a woman at gunpoint last month near the University of Washington campus.

Seattle police said the man grabbed the woman by her arm and threatened her with a gun, but he ran away when he saw other people walking in the neighborhood.

The students were walking home at 10:15 p.m. on February 22 near NE 55th Street and 15th Avenue NE.

One student, Natalie, said she saw two people, but didn’t realize what was going on until the woman approached them.

“She was crying and she was freaked out,” said Natalie. “She told us ‘I’m sorry you guys someone just tried to shoot me.’ ”

The young woman walked with Natalie and her boyfriend back to a nearby house and called police. The victim said the man was following her down the street.

The victim described the suspect as a white male in his 20s, 5-foot-4 with blue eyes and a “scrawny” build. He had blonde hair and a goatee, and was wearing a blue coat, dark jeans, and a backpack at the time.

If you have any information about this case or recognize the man in the sketch, please contact detectives at (206) 684-5550.