VANCOUVER, Wash — A man accused of trying to abduct an 11-year-old girl at a Vancouver park on Sunday told police that he thought the girl was his 13-year-old daughter whom he has not seen in person since 2023, according to court documents. He made his first appearance in court on Wednesday.
Police said they tracked down 35-year-old Michael McGlothlin with the help of a doorbell camera. He was arrested on Tuesday, Aug. 20.
Surveillance video from a home near Lieser Crest Park, where the incident happened, shows a man leaving a car, after which he allegedly tried to grab an 11-year-old girl. The video then shows him jumping a fence to take off after the girl started screaming.
The 11-year-old girl told police that a man grabbed her from behind while yelling something to the effect of “You’re my daughter,” according to court documents.
"She was screaming, 'I don't know you! Get away from me. Get away from me!'" a woman who witnessed part of the incident told KGW.
During an interview, McGlothlin told a police officer that he moved to Vancouver in June to be closer to his daughter, the probable cause affidavit says. He also said he believed his daughter lived with someone near the park.
McGlothlin was initially booked in the Clark County Jail for attempted kidnapping, but the charges later changed, with McGlothlin now facing charges of unlawful imprisonment and fourth-degree assault.
“Had Michael borne intent to kidnap a child, his apparent intent was to kidnap his own child — which is not a crime,” a Vancouver police officer said in the probable cause affidavit.
In court Wednesday, the state asked the judge to add attempted kidnapping to the charges, which was denied, with the judge saying that the court was "unable to substantiate cause finding of kidnapping second-degree based on failure to meet the plain language of the definitions.”
Investigators spoke to McGlothlin’s sister on Aug. 20. According to the affidavit, his sister told them that she spoke to McGlothin on the phone the same day of the incident. She said McGlothin told her he had been at a park and had “hugged” a girl who he believed was his daughter and then ran away when the girl started screaming. Meanwhile, his mother, who was in court on Wednesday, also told KGW that McGlothin had thought the 11-year-old girl was his daughter whom he hadn’t seen in two years.
Police arrested McGlothlin while he was walking near Northeast 18th Street and Northeast 148th Avenue — a relief to neighbors, including Leon Nilsen, who lives across the street. He said his daughter was there at the time.
“She looked up and said, ‘What the heck is going on?’” Nilsen recounted. “I’m actually thrilled that the police were able to arrest him.”
“The fact that they got him and there was video was super; that's just great,” added Erik Bjork, who also lives by the park.
McGlothlin has a lengthy criminal history, with most of the offenses — including burglary, assault and several no-contact orders — having occurred 15 years ago. On Wednesday, the judge set his bail at $20,000 with GPS monitoring required, stipulating that he has no contact with minors.
KGW spoke with a family member of the young girl, who said this whole thing has deeply affected their entire family.
McGlothlin is due back in court in two weeks.