Witnesses’ quick actions led Kent Police officers to rescue a 22-year-old woman from her alleged kidnapper on Friday evening, Mar. 14, 2025, authorities said.
The incident began around 5:38 p.m. on Friday outside a business on Washington Avenue, where multiple witnesses saw a man arguing with a woman before forcibly pulling her into his vehicle. Witnesses attempted to intervene but were unable to stop the suspect, who fled the scene. They noted the vehicle’s license plate number and immediately called 911.
Approximately 10 minutes later, additional witnesses reported seeing a woman run from a parked vehicle near the 10800 block of SE 240th Street. Witnesses said the suspect exited his vehicle, chased the woman, and forcibly dragged her back inside. Police confirmed the license plate matched the earlier incident.
Officers quickly located and stopped the vehicle in the 15200 block of SE 240th Street, rescuing the woman, who sustained bruising and injuries consistent with a struggle. The suspect, identified as the victim’s 30-year-old boyfriend from Ocean Springs, was arrested and booked into jail on kidnapping and assault charges.
DUI charges may be filed pending results of a blood test, authorities said.
Police noted that the victim and suspect recently moved from out of state, and the victim had no local connections for support. Officers arranged temporary housing through the domestic violence advocacy group Project Be Free, and the victim has since contacted her family out of state.
Police praised the vital role of the witnesses whose actions led directly to the woman’s rescue.
“Each of your individual decisions to intervene was crucial to saving this woman,” police said in a statement. “We literally cannot do our jobs without you.”
