Police arrest Kent suspect in connection with Mercer Island child luring incident

Following a thorough investigation by detectives from the Mercer Island Police Department (MIPD), they arrested a 38-year-old Kent man in connection with an incident involving the luring of a child that occurred on the island in June.

Bellevue police arrested a male suspect in connection with the incident, which occurred near a residence in the 7700 block of Southeast 76th Street on June 5. The arrest occurred on Aug. 18, when officers located the man and arrested him on outstanding warrants, MIPD said in an Aug. 22 news release.

After repeated attempts to locate the suspect, Mercer Island detectives formally filed felony charges with the King County District Attorney's Office on August 6. That office then filed charges and referred the incident to King County Superior Court to issue arrest warrants.

With the help of the family, MIPD officers and tips from the public, investigators were able to strengthen the case. After gathering evidence and numerous tips, investigators soon identified the suspect from Kent.

On June 5, at around 4:20 p.m., the MIPD noted that two children reported that a man in a Toyota Prius approached them, allegedly offering them a stuffed animal and attempting to get them to come closer.

“Fortunately, both children declined and immediately notified their mother,” the MIPD press release said. In a June 6 social media post, the MIPD informed the community, “No one was injured and there is no active threat to the community.”

The Mercer Island School District's communications team sent a letter to local families on the morning of June 6, saying, “Fortunately, the elementary school-aged children involved did the right thing by immediately seeking the help of a trusted adult, in this case a parent.”

The district encourages families to talk about personal safety and has provided a list of tips, including: Children should know their full name and home phone number and know how to use a phone. Choose babysitters carefully. Don't drop your children off alone at malls, movie theaters or parks. Teach children that adults should not ask them for help or directions.

“The Mercer Island Police Department would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the family involved in the incident and the community for their unwavering patience, cooperation and support throughout the investigation,” the MIPD said.

On August 22, residents flocked to the MIPD's Facebook page to thank the department for its diligence over the past two and a half months.

“Good job MIPD, these are difficult cases to solve,” read one post. Another local said: “We are all so grateful to be able to close this scary chapter.”

At the “National Night Out” community event on Mercer Island — also on Aug. 6 — MIPD crime prevention coordinator and community outreach liaison Cpl. Bobby Jira said the most important message to residents is “if you see something, say something,” children should not talk to strangers and more.