An active-duty Marine now faces felony charges after a 12-year-old girl says he grabbed her backpack, put a hand on her back, and told her she was “coming with” him on a Washington street.
Story Snapshot
- Kitsap County deputies arrested 20-year-old Timothy N. Caldwell two days after the reported encounter in Silverdale.
- The girl escaped and snapped a photo of the suspect as she ran away, a photo her father later shared online.
- An anonymous tip tied to that photo pointed investigators to the apartment complex where Caldwell was arrested.
- Caldwell faces attempted second-degree kidnapping and assault charges, with bail set at $350,000.
- Because Caldwell is an active-duty Marine, the case has also been referred to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
Girl’s Account Describes Physical Contact
A probable-cause statement and a Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office incident report describe what the girl told investigators happened on November 2. She said a man followed her, grabbed her backpack, placed his other hand on her back, and said she was “coming with” him. One report gives the exact phrase slightly differently, but both describe the same core moment of contact and a spoken demand.
A Photo Taken While Running Became the Key Lead
The girl broke free and ran. As she fled, she turned and took a photograph of the suspect from behind. That image became the centerpiece of the investigation. Her father later posted it on Facebook, hoping someone would recognize the man in the picture.
The post worked faster than anyone expected. An anonymous Facebook user messaged the father, saying the man in the photo lived at a specific apartment complex in Silverdale. Investigators used that tip to move quickly, even though the picture only showed the suspect’s back and the anonymous tipster’s basis for the identification was never explained publicly.
Deputies Make an Arrest Within Two Days
Kitsap County sheriff’s deputies arrested Caldwell at that Silverdale apartment complex on November 4, just two days after the reported incident. Investigators said his appearance, including a distinctive V-shaped haircut, matched the photo the girl had taken while escaping.
Prosecutors charged Caldwell with attempted second-degree kidnapping and assault. A judge set his bail at $350,000. Under Washington law, second-degree kidnapping means intentionally restraining someone by secretly holding them somewhere they won’t be found, or by using or threatening force, without the elements that would raise the charge to first degree.
Military Status Triggers a Separate Federal Review
Because Caldwell is an active-duty Marine, the Kitsap County Sheriff’s Office forwarded its reports to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service. That means the case now runs on two tracks at once, state prosecution in Kitsap County and a military-side review by federal investigators, a dual process that can shape both his criminal case and his standing in the service.
Court records available to the public do not yet show whether Caldwell entered a plea at his first court appearance. No statement from Caldwell or his attorney has surfaced in available reporting. An arrest and formal charges are not a conviction, and the case will move through the normal court process from here.
Why This Case Resonates Beyond One Washington Town
Stories like this strike a nerve because they touch something both sides of the political spectrum worry about: whether institutions, from local police to the military, actually protect families the way people expect. A quick photo from a frightened kid leading to an arrest within 48 hours is the kind of outcome people want to see work every time, not just once.
Sources:
washingtontimes.com, newsbreak.com
