FBI joins hunt for kidnapper

ARLINGTON – The Federal Bureau of Investigation is teaming up with the Arlington Police Department to catch a man who reportedly drove off with a woman’s two young children when he carjacked her van.

On Monday, the FBI’s evidence response team plans to search the minivan for clues, FBI spokeswoman Robbie Burroughs said.

The children, ages 2 and 4, were found uninjured inside the van early Thursday. That was about eight hours after a man who claimed to have a knife took the van and drove away with them inside.

The vehicle was abandoned outside a foundry in Marysville.

“I understand the family is doing as well as can be expected,” Arlington Assistant City Administrator Kristin Banfield said Friday.

Detectives received several new leads Friday. They are checking out all tips, and the investigation will take time, Banfield said.

Police are reviewing video footage gathered from surveillance cameras at more than a dozen businesses near the Rite Aid in Smokey Point, where the carjacking occurred. It likely will take days, Banfield said.

“It’s not like on ‘CSI’, where it’s all solved in an hour,” she said.

A sketch of the suspect has been sent to every law enforcement agency in the state, Banfield said.

The man is described as white, in his 30s, about 5 feet, 6 inches tall, with a shaved head and a slight goatee. He was wearing a navy blue or black hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans.

Police don’t know why the man stole the van.

“Until we talk to the guy, we’re not going to know what was going through his mind,” Banfield said. “He didn’t indicate why to the mother or her kids.”

Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.

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