An 11-year-old girl narrowly escaped an attempted kidnapping in Vancouver by kicking her alleged assailant in the groin and running away, court records say.
The man accused of the attempted abduction — 29-year-old Jerson Hartman, of Twin Falls, Idaho — now faces charges of second-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree attempted robbery and possession of a controlled substance, Washington court records state.
Hartman has pleaded not guilty.
A probable cause affidavit alleges that a man wearing a mask approached the girl as she was walking from a soccer game with her friends on Dec. 15, grabbed her by the elbow, and told her to “come here, little girl.”
He also grabbed her phone and told her to “shut up,” when she yelled for help, court records say.
Court records allege that despite the man’s grip on her arm — which was strong enough to leave red marks — she managed to break free by kicking him in the genitals and running away to a friend’s apartment.
Police got a call about the alleged attempted abduction around 5:30 p.m. and arrested Hartman that evening, court records state.
It isn’t clear from court records how police identified Hartman as the suspect.
The probable cause affidavit also alleges that Hartman had a “white crystallized” substance that tested positive for methamphetamine when officers arrested him.
Hartman doesn’t have any prior convictions in Washington. His trial date is scheduled for Feb. 9.
©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit oregonlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
