Bizarre attempted kidnapping in Burien foiled by good citizen

A woman barely escaped a bizarre kidnapping attempt in a Burien Albertson’s grocery store parking lot Friday evening. King County Sherriff’s deputies say a good citizen helped her escape and called the police.

King County Sheriff’s Sergeant Cindi West says the incident happened around 5 p.m. when a 21-year-old supermarket worker was gathering shopping carts in the parking lot near South 128th St. and 1st Avenue South.

A man in a nearby van kept trying to get the woman to come over to him and get in his van. First, according to the Sheriff’s report, the suspect told her there was a shopping cart near his van, then asked her to look at the refrigerator in his van.

“She obviously knew something was up and she was trying to get away from the guy. But, at some point, he grabbed her and tried to pull her in the van, but she fought, and got away from him,” said Sergeant West.

A witness was nearby and ran to the woman’s assistance after calling the police.

Both the witness and the woman went back into the store, but the man followed them inside.

Sergeant West says that Deputies arrived quickly and arrested the man, just as he was walking out of the store.

The 43-year-old Seattle man is now in custody. According to Sergent West, the suspect has a criminal record, but has never been arrested on kidnapping charges.

The woman told authorities she had never seen the suspect before.

“It is because we had citizens willing to act, help, and do the right thing that something very bad did not happen to this woman,” said King County Sheriff’s Sergeant Pat McCurdy. “This is another example of why it is important for people to trust their instincts and have important conversations with their children.”

Police said the would-be victim was shaken up, but was otherwise not injured.