06/13/2003

By JIM PARKER, kgw.com Staff

A Vancouver man was arraigned Friday on attempted kidnapping charges after a woman said she watched the stranger enter her home and try to grab her infant daughter.

Jeremy Michael Wall, 30, was being held at the Clark County Jail. In addition to the attempted kidnapping charge, Wall is also charged with burglary and malicious mischief.

Jeremy Michael Wall's police mugshot. (kgw.com photo)

"I said 'Oh My God' the baby's in there," she recalled.

Washer quickly ran inside to find the man in her baby daughter’s bedroom, reaching into the crib.

Lori Washer and her daughter outside their Vancouver home. (KGW Photo)

Police were notified, located the man, and chased him on foot through several nearby yards before capturing him Thursday night.

Police warn residents to be careful

The incident prompted authorities on Friday to issue a warning to Vancouver residents about a rise in "physical assaults and burglaries plagueing the area in recent months."

Police were increasing patrols near apartment complexes during the evening hours and sending community officers into neighborhoods in an attempt to combat "a marked increase in stranger attacks," Lt. Marla Schuman said.

Officers advised people to remember to keep doors and windows to their homes and apartments locked. They also advised against leaving valuables in cars and suggested residents use the buddy system when walking or exercising outdoors in the early morning or evening hours.

Among other recent incidents that prompted Friday's police warning:

* June 12: A homeowner on 57th Ave. heard the front door to his residence open in the early morning hours. He discovered an intruder hiding behind a bedroom door. The man fled after being noticed.

* June 12: A young woman living in the 1800 block of Murton awoke to find a man standing near the side of her bed. The suspect, wearing a hooded sweatshirt, ran out an open door.

* June 11: A woman was beaten and sexually assaulted in her apartment near the 2000 block of 4th Plain. The suspect was described as being in his 20's, having a thin, muscular build, thick shoulder length hair.

* May 23: A young woman in an apartment near 57th Ave. was awakened overnight by a man standing near her bed. She screamed and he fled through an open door.

* May 17: An employee of the Residence Inn near Vancouver Mall was attacked as she was cleaning one of the rooms. Her attacker entered through an open door and shot her with a Tazer gun. The victim was able to fight him off, but the man escaped.

* May 2: A 14 year-old girl was approached by a man as she walked home from school in the afternoon. The suspect attempted to force her into his car on Devine Rd. near Idaho St.

* April 29: A Hispanic man in an older gray Honda 2 door hatchback attempted to force a 16-year old girl into his car at the corner of 57th Ave. and 4th Plain. The teen struggled and was successful in warding off her attacker, who was described as 6-foot tall, 200 lbs., husky, having short dark hair and a bushy mustache.

Shuman said police weren't trying to scare people, but rather wanted "to alert area residents to the increasing assault risk in the Vancouver area with the onset of summer."

(KGW reporter C.W. Jensen contributed to this report.)