‘Why is this guy not on a 72-hour psychiatric hold?’: Attempted baby kidnapping suspect won’t face felony charges

No felony charges will be filed against a man arrested for allegedly trying to kidnap a baby last week at Pike Place Market. But, according to the King County Prosecutor’s Office, he could face misdemeanor charges.

The suspect initially approached a family at Pike Place Market on Thursday afternoon and commented on how beautiful their child, sitting in a stroller, was.

“Immediately, my red flag would go up,” KIRO host Jake Skorheim said. “Any guy who approaches my family and starts talking about how beautiful my kids are, if it’s a woman, I don’t think of it. I think in the same way. But if it’s a guy, my hackles go up, and I’m immediately wary of that person.”

The suspect then allegedly tried to grab the stroller with the baby in it from the mother at approximately 11:30 a.m.

According to probable cause documents obtained by KIRO 7, the father and the child’s grandmother intervened until police arrived and arrested the suspect. The baby’s grandmother allegedly kicked the suspect to create space while the child’s parents got the family to safety.

“Grandma might have saved that guy’s life,” Jake said.

“Saved the guy’s life or the baby?” KIRO host Spike O’Neill asked.

“She might have saved both,” Jake answered. “If you’re a father and you’re sitting there and somebody tries to grab your baby, something would snap inside my head where I would see that person is trying to take my child, and I would have a real tough time making logical decisions … Actually, no, it’s probably the most logical thing. Protect my children; harm this individual who’s trying to take my children.”

$100,000 bail for kidnapping suspect

The suspect was arrested and held on a $100,000 bond.

“$100,000 bail. Does that seem light?” Jake asked.

“It did seem light to me at first, but what really opened my eyes was that the prosecution was only seeking $150,000 in bail,” Spike responded.

“Why not $1 million?” Jake asked. “Why not $5 million?”

The Seattle Police Department (SPD) found the evidence against the kidnapping suspect didn’t support a felony charge, and is now referring the case to the Seattle City Attorney’s Office for review at the misdemeanor level.

“Somebody tried to grab a child from strangers,” Spike said. “Why is this guy not on a 72-hour psychiatric hold? You’ve got to be nuts to try to steal a baby.”

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3