Wash. man arrested after video shows him allegedly trying to abduct barista at drive-thru
01/19/2023 1:54 pm PST
AUBURN, Wash. (TCD) -- Police arrested a man they allege tried to kidnap a barista at a drive-thru earlier this week.
Surveillance video shows a man in a pickup truck at a drive-thru window Monday, Jan. 16, at 5:06 a.m. As the barista handed the man his change, he reached out of the car and tried to "drag the victim through the window using a looped ziptie device."
The victim fought back and the man dropped the money on the pavement and drove away.
Auburn Police said the man had a "unique tattoo" that said "Chevrolet" in cursive.
According to KIRO-TV, the victim was the only person working the drive-thru at the time.
Kolby Crossley, a spokesperson for the Auburn Police Department, told KIRO, "They are in vulnerable positions because they’re usually controlling those spots by themselves at early hours in the morning when it’s dark outside. But this barista did an awesome job of protecting herself and fighting this person off."
On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Auburn Police identified the suspect as Matthew Darnell and arrested him on suspicion of attempted kidnapping. His bail is set at $500,000.
Auburn Police said the department received "overwhelming support from the community" in the search for Darnell
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