Court documents detail 2 attempted kidnappings in Seattle on the same day

Seattle Police investigating 2 separate incidents of attempted child kidnapping

A 10-year-old was put in a trunk and the suspect was almost able to get away with her. Then, a 7-year-old was grabbed by a stranger in downtown Seattle-- his mother and a bystander helped fight him off.

SEATTLE - Seattle Police are investigating two apparently separate incidents of attempted kidnappings of children under the age of 10.

The first incident occurred in the View Ridge neighborhood, around 11:14 a.m., according to police. Police received a report that a man had tried to force a 10-year-old girl into the trunk of a vehicle.

Court documents say the child was walking with two other girls on 45th Ave. NE. The man allegedly parked next to the girls, got out of his car, opened the trunk and grabbed the 10-year-old, according to police.

Her screams alerted her babysitter and a Good Samaritan, who were able to rescue the girl from the trunk before the suspect closed it and drove off. The suspect also allegedly punched the girl in the stomach several times, according to court documents.

The child told detectives that she did not know who the man was.

A witness intervened and the suspect ran off. Police were able to arrest the man in Fremont.

"It really devastates me and it puts me on edge, even as an adult, because when violent individuals start going after children, that really shows they'll stop at nothing," said View Ridge neighbor Scott Merrell.

The suspect is being held for first-degree kidnapping and fourth-degree assault.

Then, just before 1 p.m. in downtown Seattle, police said 45-year-old Dustin Timmer attempted to grab a 7-year-old boy, who was walking with his mother.

Multiple witnesses called 911, saying they saw the man walk behind the pair on Madison Street and suddenly grab the boy. He was able to lift the child off his feet, but the child's mother pulled back and pulled the child away. A passerby helped fight the man off.

The suspect ran off but he was also later taken into custody.

According to court documents, Timmer was also suspected of assaulting another woman and her child, and hitting a man in the chest, before the alleged attempted kidnapping. Seattle police believe he was in crisis.

Timmer was charged with first-degree attempted kidnapping. He remains in jail on $250,000 bail.

He has a criminal history of Montana, California and Nevada. He also has been charged multiple times in Seattle Municipal Court.

Both incidents are still under investigation.