Police: 14-year-old girl says man grabbed her on way to school in West Seattle

SEATTLE -- A 14-year-old student told police Tuesday she fought off a stranger who attacked her on the way to school.

Police said it occurred near Chief Sealth International High School on Tuesday morning.

Police say the stranger followed the girl from a coffee shop at the Westwood Village Shopping Center and then continued following her toward the school.

The girl told police that at one point the man grabbed her, wrapping both of his arms around her -- and that’s when she fought back and broke free.



Now other students are on edge.

“It sounds pretty crazy,” said high school student Niama Hussein. “I mean I never really expect something like that to happen.”

Niama said she couldn’t believe that someone could be so bold to grab a fellow student.

“It’s kind of shocking,” she said.

The district said the incident happened around 6:30 a.m. when a Denny Middle School student was followed around by a stranger who repeatedly asked her questions. After she left a coffee shop, the stranger continued to follow her towards the school and then grabbed her, wrapping his arms around her.

It’s not the first time an incident like this happened in the neighborhood. In February, a series of robberies and reports of lewd acts were reported near Chief Sealth High School.

The district has urged parents to remind their kids to walk in pairs and to pay attention to what’s going on around them.

“Kids nowadays are listening to the radio, on their cellphones, they’re not paying attention to what’s going on around them,” said neighbor Dianne Duncan. “Basically just looking down at their phone, texting, or not paying attention to their surroundings.”

The suspect is described as a black man in his 30s with an East African accent. Police said the man has a skinny build and has short curly hair and wears a goatee. He was last seen wearing a black hoodie and sweat pants.

Seattle police and school security teams are planning to increase patrols around the area.

The school district is asking for volunteers to start a new block watch program that keeps eyes on kids who are walking to and from school.

If you’re interested in helping with the patrols, call the district at 206-252-9000.