Kent Police arrested a 50-year-old Kent man Saturday, Aug. 15 after an automated license plate reader notification alerted officers to a vehicle registered to a suspect wanted in connection with child abuse investigations, according to police.
Police said Officer Kinney was on routine patrol at 1:24 p.m. when he received an ALPR notification that the vehicle was near East Smith Street and East Titus Street. Kinney had assisted the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office in an attempt to apprehend the suspect two days earlier, but the man was not home at the time, police said.
“We are happy to help other agencies on all cases, but especially ones where the suspect is alleged to have caused harm to children,” Kent police said.
According to police, the man was wanted by Thurston County in connection with a probable cause investigation for second-degree rape of a child. When Kinney ran the vehicle’s plate, the return showed a $500,000 warrant out of Grays Harbor County for second-degree rape of a child, first-degree trafficking and commercial sex abuse, police said.
The vehicle registration also confirmed the vehicle was registered to the suspect, according to police.
Kinney notified other officers and told them the suspect was likely headed home because his address was near the location of the ALPR notification, police said. When officers arrived, they saw the vehicle in the suspect’s driveway.
Officers made public address announcements telling the suspect he was under arrest. Police said he eventually came out on his own and was taken into custody without incident.
The man was booked into the King County Jail to await transport back to Grays Harbor County, according to police. Thurston County detectives were notified of the arrest so they could complete their investigation.
“Don’t hide in Kent,” Kent Police said. “The officers will find you.”
