Attempted Child Abduction at Hoopfest

Cpl. Ronald Van Tassel


Sunday, June 30, 2019 at 11:36 p.m.


Officers from the Spokane Police Department responded to a child luring incident during Hoopfest. A male had reportedly grabbed a child and attempted to walk away with them. The mother and alert citizens in the area had detained the male and Officers took him into custody. He was later booked into jail.

On 6-30-19 a male (26 year old Peter Wilson) was walking around Riverfront Part during Hoopfest. Witnesses reported that Wilson had asked a female if the kids standing around her, were hers. She said that they were. Without warning Wilson wrapped his arms around the child. At the same time the mother also grabbed her child. Wilson was attempting to pull the child away and the mother was trying to counter it. She was screaming that the child was hers and for Wilson to let go. At about this point several other people in the area grabbed onto Wilson. He was combative and the crowd held him to the ground and waited for Police.

Officers responded and detained Wilson. He remained combative with Officers throughout. After the investigation was complete, Officers charged Wilson with Attempted kidnapping 2nd degree. He was taking to the Hospital for evaluation and later booked into jail.

Wilson has an extensive criminal history including convictions for 4th assault, harassment, 3 counts of malicious mischief 3rd, 3 counts of 3rd Theft, resisting arrest and 7 counts of code violations.

While onscene numerous people had walked by and mentioned to Officers that they saw Wilson acting odd, particularly around children in the area. We were not able to get everybody’s statements related to this incident. We are asking that if you witnessed this incident or other incidents that match this description at Hoopfest, that you call Crime Check and make a report.

You can reference case number 2019-20120368.



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