Man with disabilities found safe in Seattle; suspect taken into custody

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — A 42-year-old man with disabilities was found safe Friday afternoon after the vehicle he was in was stolen from a Federal Way parking lot, police said.

Investigators said Royce Ulibarri's mother drove with him to a store near the 34800 block of 16th Avenue South.

Ulibarri, who has Down Syndrome, stayed in the car while his mother went inside.

Investigators said when she returned to the car 30 minutes later, she noticed her car and Ulibarri were gone.

Ulibarri was inside the vehicle when it was stolen, police said.

Police said the suspected car thief was a white man with dark hair, a white shirt and dark shorts.

A "short time later, the Auburn Police Department responded to a reckless-driving complaint of the car near Highway 18 and C-street in Auburn," Federal Way Commander Casey Jones said. "We later learned that the person who reported the reckless-driving saw a passenger that resembled Royce."

Before 5 p.m., Ulibarri and the suspect were located in Seattle.

Ulibarri was evaluated and was OK.

The suspect was taken into custody.

More news from KIRO 7

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP

Cox Media Group