Seattle Police arrested a 35-year-old man following an assault on a teenage girl in the Northgate area early this morning.
According to police, officers responded around 9:00 a.m. near Northeast 103rd Street and 5th Avenue Northeast after reports that a man was attempting to drag a girl toward a wooded area. When officers arrived, they found the teen with minor injuries. The suspect had already fled on foot.
The girl received on-scene medical assistance from firefighters and was later transported to Seattle Children’s Hospital for further evaluation.
Detectives from the Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit (SAU) took over the investigation, processing the scene and speaking with witnesses. Investigators determined the suspect had allegedly lured the teen from a nearby bus stop into the wooded area where the assault occurred.
Around 10:50 a.m., officers located and arrested the suspect near Aurora Avenue North and North 115th Street. He was taken to Seattle Police Headquarters for questioning and later booked into the King County Jail on charges including investigation of rape and kidnapping.
Police also noted the suspect had outstanding warrants from Snohomish County and Puyallup Municipal Court.
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes condemned the incident and emphasized community responsibility in protecting vulnerable residents, while also directing victims to available support resources such as Seek Then Speak and the King County Sexual Assault Resource Center.
Incident Number: 2026-123190
Police arrest man for assaulting teen in North Seattle:https://t.co/JlYKFFELV9
— Seattle Police Department (@SeattlePD) May 4, 2026