Burien grocery store clerk escapes kidnapping attempt
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BURIEN, Wash. -- Deputies arrested a man Friday night after he allegedly tried to abduct an employee from a Burien grocery store.
The 21-year-old Albertsons employee was in the store's parking lot, located at SW 18th and 1st Ave. S., when a man she didn't know walked over and tried to convince her to get into his van.
According to deputies, the man asked if she wanted to see a refrigerator in the van. The woman, named Tasha, is a clerk at the store and trained to be courteous, but she said something didn't feel right about the situation.
"I had a gut feeling that there was something wrong, and I listened to it," she said.
Moments later, the man grabbed her and tried to drag her into a van, according to King County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindi West.
Another woman in the parking lot saw the struggle and began yelling. The employee was able to fight the man off and run into the store to call police. The man followed her in and pretended to shop, but deputies arrived on scene a short time later and arrested him.
Deputies said the 43-year old Seattle man is a known gang member with a long criminal past. They say he's "very dangerous and very violent with a long rap sheet." He was booked into King County jail and is now facing possible attempted kidnapping charges.
Both Tasha and her mother, Tonya, are shaken up from the attack but wanted to tell their story.
"This is a pretty scary thought, to be told your daughter was almost kidnapped. I thank the lady who helped her," Tonya said.
The 21-year-old Albertsons employee was in the store's parking lot, located at SW 18th and 1st Ave. S., when a man she didn't know walked over and tried to convince her to get into his van.
According to deputies, the man asked if she wanted to see a refrigerator in the van. The woman, named Tasha, is a clerk at the store and trained to be courteous, but she said something didn't feel right about the situation.
"I had a gut feeling that there was something wrong, and I listened to it," she said.
Moments later, the man grabbed her and tried to drag her into a van, according to King County sheriff's spokeswoman Cindi West.
Another woman in the parking lot saw the struggle and began yelling. The employee was able to fight the man off and run into the store to call police. The man followed her in and pretended to shop, but deputies arrived on scene a short time later and arrested him.
Deputies said the 43-year old Seattle man is a known gang member with a long criminal past. They say he's "very dangerous and very violent with a long rap sheet." He was booked into King County jail and is now facing possible attempted kidnapping charges.
Both Tasha and her mother, Tonya, are shaken up from the attack but wanted to tell their story.
"This is a pretty scary thought, to be told your daughter was almost kidnapped. I thank the lady who helped her," Tonya said.
this one should be tried by the feds as this is most likely human trafficking. he most likely was going to turn her into slavery.
Thank goodness she is OK and this criminal is off the streets for a while.  I share the frustration of some of the posters...I would like to see parole abolished for certain crimes. I would like NO SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS for those convicted of sex crimes inside the prison.  I also would like the entire juvenile justice system overhauled, i.e., serious time for serious crimes and intervention and therapy where appropriate...it is very frustrating and of course, no one simple answer applies.
This is so scary--that poor woman--thankfully someone was there to help her and she escaped the creep who then went back into the store. What a dumb criminal.
This is crazy. One more similar story that is occurring daily around here. I have come to the realization that there is far too much trash in this country. We need to start mass executions of  career criminals that historically have been clothed, bathed, fed, and housing in our prisons/jails at the taxpayer's coin. I'd be in favor of public executions along with the chain gang here in WA State.Â
Burien police cars have one ugly logo...
 @StringerJoe yea that would be the city logo so the whole city has one ugly logo.
 @StringerJoe Now now... Be nice. Some city official sat and played with his pencils for weeks on end comming up with that logo. They apparently thought it was the most wonderful thing created. At our expense of coarse.
@SG1 @StringerJoe  Your spelling errors are funny, but not as funny as your remarks.
 @plantfann  @SG1  Every day that passes is one more day closer to senility..... Far too many days since school. Wait, I know a solution. I'll simply blame it on the spell checker! That's the ticket. :)
I agree. Their logo does not necessarily say, "We are serious. We are professional."
Well thank god we'll all be safer this career felon will be off the streets for good now. Oh wait, nevermind this is Washington State, he'll be back out raping somebody by Bumbershoot.
Of course, criminals aren't too frickin' bright - he goes BACK IN THE STORE to "pretend shop??" I had to laugh! He must've wanted to get caught! Dumb dope!
 @DMT He was shopping for some Dr. Friday's Smart Pills.
Once again, a gang member known to be "highly violent" is just wandering the streets near our families and friends. Insane. Thank God the young woman escaped, and what a blessing that the passerby was able to help.
It seems odd that he followed her back into the store and pretended to shop. Most traveling appliance salesman/kidnappers would have gotten out of there after failing to accomplish the task. Now let's hope they keep him on ice and send his creepy van to the scrap yard.
@Insomniac Dreams
Yes we live less than 1/2 a block from there, can we see what he looks like please. God knows its not too far fetched to think he might be out and about sooner than later
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 @Jackie Crisp  @Insomniac That's the store some of my BFF's shop at and live close to. I would like to see a photo of the suspect too for all our safety since you're right, he'll probably be out sooner rather than later. What happened to the 3 strikes law?
A Conceal Carry gun permit cost $60. Arm yourselves ladies: gun, pepper-spray, taser. Two shots to the chest and this guy never attempts something like that again. Â Problem solve. Â Instead everyone watching this news clip knows this poor young woman's face, where she works and knows she is unarmed. Â Â
@Sheepdog If she takes out a gun, she'd better be ready to use it or else the criminal will take it away for sure. I prefer to carry a knife. A strong bladed knife. If a guy grabs me or pulls me from behind, out comes the knife and I am not afraid to use it. A nice deep plunge into his gut or arm will hopefully be enough to give me some time to get away. If not, he'd better be ready for some slashing. I fight dirty and I'm not afraid to grab anything to knock his head off.
 @Sheepdog Ladies (and anyone) if you're going to carry a concealed weapon, learn how to use it and use it safely. If you're carrying a gun for self defense and have absolutely no self defense training, you are most likely carrying a weapon you will be providing for use by your assailant. Here is one place to start but there are lots of places to learn self defense in our area.. The bottom line - everyone should learn how to protect themselves no matter what weapon they're using - or not using. http://www.firearmsacademy.com/ Â
 @Julia I agree with you Julia. Too many people think all they have to have is a gun, but don't think about what happens when you freeze in fear, and the assailant uses it against you instead. Training would certainly help if you think you can handle the real-time situation, not a fantasy of it. Obviously, an employee of a store cannot carry a gun going out to collect shopping carts and stocking shelves. The thought of walking by an employee packing a gun is frightening in itself. Maybe they will use it on YOU if you are some poor soul hungry for food and do something stupid.Â
 @Sheepdog Problem is, she has to have the weapon on her person and then get it out and use it. More likely scenario is that she gets the weapon out and the thug takes it away from her.
Back up polite with prepared, ladies. You really can't depend on someone else being there, because those are the times when you are being targeted. I don't know what kind of dork this guy is, but this young lady was real lucky.
Why can't we know this suspect's name? I am furious that there is a dangerous person wondering around trying throw women into his van and we don't get to know who it is.Â
43 and still active in a gang - real winner
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NOT!
 @LocalLady That's one of their creeds, once a gang banger, always a gang banger
There is no SW 18th in Burien anywhere near 1st Ave S. This is a bogus report.
its 128th and 1st ave south in burien, I saw the police its a real report
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@Steve Bloom they ment 128th st & 1st ave
@foreverhis8257 I think !28th is north of Burien  but is not classified as Burien. There is indeed an Albertson's store on the corner of 158th and 1st Ave. S.
 @Mary  @foreverhis8257 That is Burien. I know the area and I know that store. It is a real report and it is in the city of Burien.  Also, they wouldn't send the Burien police to unincorporated King County because it's out of their jurisdiction.
@foreverhis8257 You are right, I used to shop there when I lived in Seattle.
 @foreverhis8257  @uplink It's the one on 128th - it looks just like that and I was just there last week.
@foreverhis8257 I do know this, when I lived there (Moved 13 months ago after retiring) he would have found out about the second ammendment if I had been there. Never met her but if she is anything like the other employee's she is a gem.
@uplink their is only two it could of been that one or the one on 160th in five corners and it didnt look like that one at all and plus i know Teasha and what store she is at
 @Steve Bloom It's at 158th and 1st ave.  I think the KOMO editors just missed the 5.
omg i know the girl that this happened too her name is Tesha she is always so sweet and nice too everybody im shocked that this happened too her thank god she is doing alright and is safe tonight never would of thought that something like this would ever happen too somebody ive knowen all threw high school
*Teasha
43-year old known gang member with a long criminal past, very dangerous and very violent with a long rap sheet. And we wonder what's wrong with the justice system, why the F is he still roaming the streets, because we fail to take crime seriously, quit wasting money on freeway noise barriers and salmon freeway art in Issaquah, and build more jails and prisons, or at least keep the scum bags in prison/ jail that should stay there. When was the last time there was a levy for prison/jail upkeep or for more corrections officers? I forgot it's Seattle where P.C. takes precedence over common sense.
 @hinterland Not more prisons, more executions.
@hinterland I remember many years ago when Seattle was just starting to get some gang activity and the police chief incorrectly stated that we didn't have a gang problem in Seattle. Boy was he wrong. I believe your comments are right on. Our priorities as a society have to be changed to protect the law abinding citizens. If it takes more prisons - let's build them. But a better alternative would be to reach some of these kids before they start down the wrong path.Â
 @Fritz Somborovich  @hinterland Actually, that was Assistant Police Chief Noreen Skagen who said there was no gang problem. I don't recall who the chief was at the time but he was silent on the subject.
 @Julia It was long ago, prior to Chief Stamper. It was when the gangs first started to infiltrate Seattle. If the police had taken a pro-active step back then AND CONTINUED an anti-gang force we wouldn't be in the situation we have today. This is true across the country.
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While I normally feel that violence just begats more violence the truth is that gangs understand nothing else but absolute power. The police, the courts and the citizenry MUST be absolute in their insistence that gangs be eradicated by any means, including execution.
 @Furd -what year was that when they said that? We had a big gang problem in the 80's and Norm Stamper actually made some progress clearing it up during the early-mid-90's. Was it after that the statement was made? That must've been some wishful thinking that whatever was done to clean it up would work for the long term with no effort at all from the police anymore. I don't know why if they cleaned it up once why they can't do it again, except that our city government has gotten really weak in the last decade or two.
Good job young lady!
This hits close to home; my daughter is a Courtesey Clerk & trouble in the parking lot is something I have thought about. I showed her the story & told her to be careful. Her response was the same as this young ladies: "Mom, we have to be polite to our customers." I told her, "yes, but you don't have to go near anyones car", in a situation like this one, anyway. This is a good reminder that we all need to be aware of our surroundings & looking out for each other. Glad this young woman is safe & the suspect is in custody, hopefully for a long time.
 @Des Moines Dame I read an article where one of things it says not to do is PARK next to a van, as an assailant can open their door and grab you, or whatever evil they have planned.
This will plea bargain down to JayWalking4....
Grateful someone was there the yell for help and that she was able to fight this creep off. I just hope he's kept locked up so he can't try again.
Thank goodness she was able to fight him off, and that he was stupid enough to stay there for the police to arrest him. He has a long violent rap sheet, I sure hope this is his third strike.