Maple Valley girl kicks and screams to escape stranger’s grip at playground

A 5-year-old girl kicked and screamed to escape from a man who grabbed her while playing at a Maple Valley playground.

The King County Sheriff’s Office says the girl and a 4-year-old boy were playing on swings Wednesday evening when the man approached the kids, spoke with them and picked up the girl.

He man put her down when she kicked, screamed and hit him.

One witness grabbed the boy to protect him as another witness confronted the man.

Police arrested the 21-year-old from Maple Valley a short distance away and booked him for investigation of unlawful imprisonment.