Police in Kelso, Washington, are reviewing neighborhood security footage after a man reportedly grabbed a trick-or-treating girl by the arm just before 7 p.m. on Halloween. According to officers, the girl escaped by kicking the man in the groin and running. The suspect was described as wearing a black hoodie and dark jeans, and driving a white utility van. A search of the area turned up no matching vehicle or suspect, and Longview police later received reports of a similar van following children.
The story is a full country away from the Suncoast, but the lessons travel. For local families, it’s a reminder that group trick-or-treating and parental eyes on the street still matter, and that kids who know how to make noise and fight back can create their own escape. Police are asking anyone with information to call 360-423-1270, and they’re leaning on doorbell and security camera footage to piece together what happened.
If you have a camera on your street, you may be a witness without realizing it, whether the incident is down the block or across the country. And if you have kids, this is the week to run through the basics one more time: stay together, stay in lit areas, trust your gut, and never go anywhere with someone you don’t know. What’s the one safety rule your family never breaks?
