Teen arrested in connection with two Sammamish attacks
SAMMAMISH, Wash. -- A 16-year-old boy has been arrested for allegedly attacking a girl and a woman in separate incidents Monday.
The first attack happened around 3:30 p.m. in the 22700 block of NE 2nd St. Police say a10-year-old girl was walking home from her school bus stop when she was grabbed from behind., according to Sgt. Cindi West with the King County Sheriff's office. The victim fought back and was able to escape to a neighbor's house. After the neighbor walked her home, her parents contacted police.
The second attack occurred just after 7 p.m. in the 700 block of SE 240th Way. A 26-year-old woman was about to enter her condo when she was attacked from behind.
"I was so caught off guard and so vulnerable," the victim, who asked to remain anonymous, told KOMO News. "He kind of shoved my back and reached under my legs and totally groped me."
She says she screamed right away.
"And I stepped away and he kind off took off sprinting," she said.
She got herself safely inside her home, called 911 and yelled to a neighbor for help.
That neighbor went running after the suspect and when he caught up with a guy that matched her description, he took a picture of him with his cell phone.
"Which he later provided to us which is how we were able to identify the suspect and take him into custody this afternoon," said Acting Police Chief Sgt. Jessica Sullivan.
Detectives say the 16-year-old boy they arrested is also suspected of attacking the 10-year-old girl earlier in the day.
The 26-year-old victim said she's lucky because the guy could have thrust himself into her house.
"I mean that's the scariest thing, he could have shoved me in and locked my door," she said. "He was already in the entry way of my house."
And she's a definitely relieved to hear of the arrest.
"It's not fun being scared it takes every single ounce of your energy and everything," she said. "So it would be nice to go back to normal."
The teen has been booked into the King County Juvenile Detention Facility for investigation of child molestation and assault. He's expected to make is first court appearance on Thursday.
The first attack happened around 3:30 p.m. in the 22700 block of NE 2nd St. Police say a10-year-old girl was walking home from her school bus stop when she was grabbed from behind., according to Sgt. Cindi West with the King County Sheriff's office. The victim fought back and was able to escape to a neighbor's house. After the neighbor walked her home, her parents contacted police.
The second attack occurred just after 7 p.m. in the 700 block of SE 240th Way. A 26-year-old woman was about to enter her condo when she was attacked from behind.
"I was so caught off guard and so vulnerable," the victim, who asked to remain anonymous, told KOMO News. "He kind of shoved my back and reached under my legs and totally groped me."
She says she screamed right away.
"And I stepped away and he kind off took off sprinting," she said.
She got herself safely inside her home, called 911 and yelled to a neighbor for help.
That neighbor went running after the suspect and when he caught up with a guy that matched her description, he took a picture of him with his cell phone.
"Which he later provided to us which is how we were able to identify the suspect and take him into custody this afternoon," said Acting Police Chief Sgt. Jessica Sullivan.
Detectives say the 16-year-old boy they arrested is also suspected of attacking the 10-year-old girl earlier in the day.
The 26-year-old victim said she's lucky because the guy could have thrust himself into her house.
"I mean that's the scariest thing, he could have shoved me in and locked my door," she said. "He was already in the entry way of my house."
And she's a definitely relieved to hear of the arrest.
"It's not fun being scared it takes every single ounce of your energy and everything," she said. "So it would be nice to go back to normal."
The teen has been booked into the King County Juvenile Detention Facility for investigation of child molestation and assault. He's expected to make is first court appearance on Thursday.
