Update: Enumclaw Police Make Arrest in Kidnapping, Child Molestation Investigation

Update: 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31:

The man arrested Wednesday by Enumclaw Police on charges of kidnapping and child molestation has been identified as 25-year-old Travis Lear, police reported Thursday.

According to a statement of probable cause by Enumclaw police detectives, the 11-year-old female victim and her father were at the Enumclaw Library at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday when she went out to the parking lot alone to their parked vehicle to eat some food inside.

While sitting alone, the suspect later identified as Lear, ordered her out of the car and told her to go into the library bathroom or he would kill her, the victim told police. She believed Lear would harm her and did what he told her to do. Lear escorted her into the bathroom and locked the door.

Inside the bathroom Lear molested the victim then released her after telling her if she told anyone he would kill her. She told police Lear told her he didn’t like what he was doing but had urges.

The girl told her father immediately about the incident and pointed to Lear as he was walking away from the building. Lear denied the incident occurred then later told the father he was trying to help the juvenile find the suspect.

The father called police and described the suspect. Detectives met with the father and victim at the police station. The detective working the case recognized the clothing description and traits provided by the father and victim as that of Lear. Lear had been at the Dept of Corrections (DOC) satellite office (at the Enumclaw Police station) an hour earlier.

The detective spoke with the DOC officer who told him during their meeting Lear had requested permission to go to the Enumclaw Library and that she had denied his request. Video of the police station lobby verified Lear was at the police station earlier and was also used to assist with the positive identification.

Lear was arrested at a family member’s house just outside the city limits without incident. He is a registered sex offender with previous convictions for third-degree rape of a child and third-degree attempted rape of a child.

On Thursday following his bail hearing, Lear remains in King County Jail in Seattle with bail set at $1 million.

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Update 9:50 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31:

KIRO TV is reporting the man arrested was 25-year-old Travis Lear, a Level 1 sex offender who has been convicted of rape.

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Update: 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30:

A 25-year-old man is in custody Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of assaulting a female juvenile near the Enumclaw Library, according to Enumclaw police.

The incident was reported around 1:30 p.m. on the 1700 block of First Street; the man was arrested shortly after for kidnapping and child molestation.

No injuries were reported by the victim and no weapons appeared to have been involved. The suspect was unknown to the victim.

The suspect was transported to the King County Jail in Seattle Wednesday evening where he will be formally charged.

Editor's Note: Information provided by the Enumclaw Police Department.