Three girls are hailed as heroes in their community as they thwarted an attempted kidnapping of their six-year-old neighbor in Kent, Washington.
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Authorities received a 911 call on Wednesday from a concerned witness who reported seeing a man attempting to abduct a young child. The witness described the suspect, which led the officers to respond to the scene and apprehend the individual quickly. Three girls were going to an ice cream truck when they noticed their six-year-old neighbor in distress. She was being held by an unknown man who had a firm grip on her wrist, and she pleaded with him to let her go, NBC reported.
The situation intensified when the man tried to pick up the girl and walk away. However, the trio confronted him, asking if he knew the girl. He claimed he did, but the girl immediately shook her head, prompting the trio to act swiftly. They persuaded the man to put the child down and escorted her safely back to her apartment, ensuring her well-being.
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Subsequently, the child’s parents confirmed to the police that the man was indeed a stranger. The quick intervention of the three girls, combined with the detailed account from the 911 caller, played a crucial role in the successful resolution of this alarming incident. “We are impressed beyond words at the maturity and protectiveness displayed by these preteen girls. Without their intervention, the excellent description of the suspect from the 911 caller, and the swift response by multiple KPD officers, the outcome would have changed dramatically,” the department said in a statement.
A family member explained how grateful they were that the community used their quick thinking to contact police which led to the stranger’s arrest. Police did not release his name but said he was a 40-year-old male who did not know the family. He was arrested and charged with suspicion of kidnapping along with being booked into the King County Jail.