Seattle police arrested a 35-year-old man on Monday after they say he assaulted a teenage girl and tried to pull her into a wooded area near Northeast 103rd Street and 5th Avenue Northeast in the Northgate neighborhood. Firefighters treated the teen at the scene, and medics took her to Seattle Children’s Hospital for evaluation. Police said her injuries were minor. Officers later found the suspect near Aurora Avenue North and North 115th Street and took him into custody.
Police account of the attack
Around 9:00 a.m., officers responded to reports that a man had tried to drag a girl into the woods near a bus stop and found the victim with minor injuries, according to the Seattle Police Department. Detectives with the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit processed the scene, spoke with witnesses and collected evidence while firefighters and medics provided care to the teen. Patrol officers later spotted the suspect walking near Aurora Avenue North and North 115th Street at about 10:50 a.m. Police transported him to Seattle Police headquarters for interviews and then booked him into the King County Jail for investigation of rape and kidnapping.
Chief's message and support
"Today’s incident is unacceptable. Our children should be able to travel safely and enjoy their youth without fear," Chief Shon Barnes wrote in the department's post on X. The post also points survivors to local support services and urges anyone who may have information to contact investigators.
Resources and what to do
The department’s notice links to local survivor resources, including Seek Then Speak and the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center, which offer crisis support and advocacy. Seattle Police are asking anyone with tips or video footage related to the case to reach out to investigators so detectives can follow up. The investigation is ongoing, and police say more information may be released as they review evidence.
Legal status
Police say the suspect, a 35-year-old man, was booked into King County Jail for investigation of rape and kidnapping and has multiple outstanding warrants out of Snohomish County and Puyallup Municipal Court. Being booked for investigation is not a conviction, and prosecutors will decide whether to file charges after detectives present their case. Detectives are continuing to interview witnesses and review evidence.
