EVERETT — She screamed when he picked her up and put her in his car.
Early Friday, an Everett girl, 8, was walking to school when she was hit by a car. The driver then scooped her up and whisked her away, witnesses told police, according to a affidavit filed in Everett District Court.
That’s when the little girl let out her shrill alarm.
The man told witnesses he was taking her to a hospital. Later he told police, “I was only trying to help,” court papers said.
Now, Richard A. Fowler, 39, is behind bars and police are investigating him for hit-and-run and kidnapping.
Fowler’s relatives said Monday he meant no harm.
Police say Fowler didn’t take the girl to a hospital. Instead, he passed two Everett police cars, ran a red light and drove more than a dozen miles to Shoreline before leaving the seriously injured and bleeding girl at a convenience store along Highway 99.
The Dodge Magnum that hit the girl was reported stolen from Dwayne Lane, a south Everett auto dealer, where Fowler said he had been employed. Police found the car in Shoreline late Friday.
Detectives now are searching the stolen vehicle for evidence, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said.
When he surrendered on Friday, Fowler told officers he had “done something bad,” the court papers said. “I think I need a lawyer, I’m gonna need a lawyer,” he reportedly said.
Fowler allegedly told police he believed he had an arrest warrant and didn’t want to take the girl to an Everett hospital. That’s why he drove south, according to the police affidavit.
Fowler’s mother and sister said the Everett man is the father of three young girls.
“He would never hurt a child,” Fowler’s sister, April Uriarte, said. “He can do nothing but weep or cry.”
While being photographed at the Snohomish County Jail, Fowler allegedly asked police, “Is the little girl OK?”
The child is recovering, Everett police Sgt. Robert Goetz said. She apparently suffered a broken jaw and a hurt leg, the court papers said.
Sandra Fowler blamed her son’s behavior on his drug addiction. She apologized to the girl’s family.
“I know she must have been scared,” Sandra Fowler said. “All he wanted to do was help her.”
Richard Fowler was jailed Friday for investigation of first-degree kidnapping and hit-and-run. He’s also jailed for investigation of residential burglary in connection with a Jan. 26 Lynnwood incident.
He’s being held in lieu of $60,000 bail.
Jackson Holtz: 425-339-3437, jholtz@heraldnet.com.
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