Man kidnaps woman, forces her to drive him to bank robbery

EVERETT, Wash. — Everett police said a man kidnapped a woman and forced her to drive him to a bank, which he then robbed as she waited outside for him to return.

Police said that on Wednesday around 5 p.m., an Everett Community College student was returning to her car that was parked on a street near the school when a man walked up, pointed a gun at her and ordered her to get into her car.

At one point, the man directed the student to park in downtown Everett.  Before getting out, he told the woman that if she drove away he would find and kill her because he knew her license plate number, investigators said.

The student told police she was afraid, so she remained in her parked car until the man returned.

Shortly before 6 p.m., the man directed the student to drive to the Wells Fargo Bank at 1801 Broadway Ave. and ordered her to wait.

Investigators said the man walked to an open teller window and asked if the bank cashed checks.

When told yes, the man leaned in close and pushed a note to the teller that demanded money and threatened to kill the teller if he called police.

The robber then walked out of the bank with some cash.

The man then returned to the victim’s car and told her to drive him to the area near the college where she was kidnapped earlier, detectives said.

The student was not injured and later drove to the police department to report the crime.

Detectives are investigating the incident as a kidnapping and a bank robbery.

The man is described as black, 20-30 years-old, about 5 feet 11 inches tall, 160 pounds with shoulder-length black dreadlocks.  He was wearing a dark blue beanie, a dark blue jean jacket, blue jeans and brown shoes.   He spoke with an African or French accent.  Police said there was a possibility the dreadlocks could be a wig.

Police ask that anyone who noticed a suspicious vehicle, person or activity in north Everett or who has information about the bank robbery to call 911, the Everett Police Department tip line at 425 257-8450 or Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-8477.

KIRO