Police Locate Tacoma-area Kidnap Suspect and Victim in Salem

After a few tense hours, a female believed to be kidnapped out of Washington, was located safely.

Photo of arrest scene: Oregon State Police

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon State Police SWAT team members working with OSP troopers, Pierce County Sheriff's Office, and Salem Police Department, arrested a 17-year old Salem male Wednesday afternoon related to a reported kidnapping of the suspect's 18-year old estranged girlfriend from the Tacoma area.

The victim was found missing from her grandmother's home on 78th Street Cr. E. in Tacoma at 7:15 a.m. this morning.

"Family members say they found evidence of a struggle in the home and a small child being babysat by the victim was left alone in the home."

That is the last thing police detectives often like to hear, but in this case OSP's Lieutenant Gregg Hastings says the victim was found safe and unharmed in Salem.

He says Pierce County Sheriff's Office deputies were the first to respond after the reported disappearance.

"Information was developed indicating the victim recently fled an abusive relationship in Oregon and may have been kidnapped by her 17-year old former boyfriend," Hastings said.

Two hours after the initial call, Pierce County investigators contacted OSP detectives, advising them to be on the lookout for a black car southbound from Washington State to a Salem area address.

Hastings says OSP checked out an address in the 2800 block of Claxter Road NE and spotted a similar vehicle parked there. Troopers and Salem police set up surveillance and a perimeter.

"OSP SWAT team members responded to the area and as they were arriving in the neighborhood the suspect was seen getting in the car and starting to leave." Hastings says the suspect was taken into custody without incident at 1:36 p.m.

That is when officers contacted the residence and found the victim alone and unharmed.

The juvenile suspect is being detained as a Fugitive from Justice. He will be taken to Marion County Juvenile Detention Center and his name withheld at this time per Marion County District Attorney's Office.