Investigators say the girl was lured from a bus stop before the assault.
SEATTLE, WA— Seattle police arrested a 35-year-old man Monday after they said he lured a teenage girl from a Northgate bus stop, dragged her toward nearby woods and assaulted her in the city’s north end.
The arrest followed a morning call near Northeast 103rd Street and 5th Avenue Northeast, an area close to transit stops, Northgate retail sites and homes. Police said the girl suffered minor injuries and was taken to Seattle Children’s Hospital for evaluation. The man was booked into King County Jail for investigation of rape and kidnapping.
Officers were called at about 9 a.m. after reports that a man was trying to pull a girl into a wooded area near the street. Police said the suspect ran before officers arrived. Firefighters treated the girl at the scene before medics took her to the hospital. Detectives with the Seattle Police Department’s Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit responded to process the area, interview witnesses and collect evidence. Police Chief Shon Barnes called the incident “unacceptable” and said children should be able to travel safely.
Investigators later said the man had lured the teen from a nearby bus stop into the wooded area, where the assault occurred. Police did not release the girl’s age, the suspect’s name or details about how the two came into contact. The department also did not say whether the suspect and the girl knew each other. Officers found the suspect at about 10:50 a.m. near Aurora Avenue North and North 115th Street, roughly north and west of the reported assault scene. He was taken to Seattle Police Headquarters for questioning by detectives.
The case drew concern because it happened in daylight near a busy transit area. FOX 13 Seattle reported that people who work and live nearby described the site as a heavily used route near the Northgate Mall area, a library, clinics and homes. Abigail Sanchez, who works nearby, said the attack was frightening because it happened in “such a communal area.” Neighbor Alex Bustillos said he was shocked and had not seen similar trouble in the area before.
Police said the man also had multiple outstanding warrants from Snohomish County and Puyallup Municipal Court. The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office told FOX 13 Seattle that the suspect’s prior arrest history included a 2024 robbery arrest tied to an alleged bicycle theft in Shoreline and a 2025 arrest after he was accused of biting a security guard during a shoplifting incident. Prosecutors also said he had been arrested earlier this year in Snohomish County on a domestic violence assault warrant and suspected fentanyl possession.
No charges had been announced in the first police statement, and booking for investigation means prosecutors still must review the case before filing any criminal counts. Detectives are expected to continue reviewing evidence, witness statements and any available video from the area. Police listed the case under incident number 2026-123190. The department said its Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit was handling the investigation.
The reported assault added to concerns among people who use Northgate’s transit routes and sidewalks during morning travel. Chris Powers, who lives nearby, told FOX 13 Seattle that he walks through the area daily to reach the bus and light rail. Sanchez said she thought about students and relatives who use the same public spaces. Their comments reflected fear about a public place that many people pass through for school, work and errands.
The suspect remained in custody after his arrest Monday, police said. The next step is review by King County prosecutors, who will decide whether to file charges after receiving the police investigation.
Author note: Last updated May 5, 2026.