A 35-year-old Seattle man was arrested on felony charges of communicating with a minor for immoral purposes after a Kent patrol officer conducted a thorough investigation into allegations reported earlier this month.
According to police, the incident began on Halloween when the man, whose name has not been released, met a young girl while she was trick-or-treating. He complimented her appearance and later obtained her cellphone number. Over the course of a week, the man exchanged text messages with the girl and suggested meeting up for sexual activity.
The situation was stopped when the girl’s parent discovered the messages and called 911, preventing any further progression. Patrol Officer A. Rojas took the report and conducted an investigation, ultimately identifying the suspect and coordinating with Seattle Police for his arrest.
“It seems obvious to us as adults not to give random strangers our phone numbers or addresses, and not to try to meet up with someone we barely know,” Kent Police said in a statement. “But kids lack our experience and think differently. So, we encourage you to think of a cell phone, I-Pad, laptop, and other similar devices as windows to your home that provide access to your child. You would not leave your windows open to allow just anyone to sneak inside. Don’t leave your screens unguarded either.
“Talk to your kids, check they phones frequently, and put safeguards on their devices.”
The suspect is now facing felony charges and the case remains under investigation.
The case highlights the importance of parental vigilance in protecting children from online predators, and police provided the following resources about internet safety for kids:
- https://www.unicef.org/parenting/child-care/keep-your-child-safe-online
- https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/net-safety.html
