Bystanders stop two separate attempted child kidnappings

Two separate kidnappings were narrowly avoided on Tuesday in under two hours when bystanders intervened, according to Seattle Police.

The incidents happened in the middle of the day in downtown Seattle and in the View Ridge neighborhood.

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Police said they received a report just before 11:15 a.m. that a man tried to force a 10-year-old girl into a vehicle near the corner of NE 65th Street and 45th Avenue. According to SPD, a witness stepped in and stopped the man, who then took off running and left the child behind.

SPD said responding officers found information about the man and tracked his car to Fremont, where they arrested him.

Less than two hours later, police said multiple callers reported they saw a man try to snatch a child off a downtown street near 2nd Avenue and Madison Street. Officers responded to the scene and spoke with the child and his grandmother, who told them they were walking along 2nd Avenue when a man came up from behind and picked up the 7-year-old.

SPD said the man tried to escape with the boy, but his grandmother held on and pulled the boy away while another witness fought the man.

Police found the man several blocks away and arrested him. SPD said he “appeared to be in a state of crisis” and was booked into the King County Jail.

The department said it does not believe the two incidents are linked.

No injuries were reported.

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