Witnesses said five or six men dressed in white plastic jumpsuits and hoods grabbed three victims and restrained them with zip ties. According to witnesses, the victims were asking for help and for someone to call 911.
What was initially reported as an abduction in Olympia’s Heritage Park Wednesday night turned out to be a misguided family prank, according to Washington State Patrol.
Witnesses told investigators they saw five or six men dressed in white plastic jumpsuits and hoods grab three people and restrain them with zip ties at about 10:30 p.m. Wednesday near Powerhouse Road Southwest, which runs along the southeast side of Capitol Lake. According to witnesses, the victims were asking for help and for someone to call 911.
The abduction was the hoax, not the report. When the witnesses were interviewed, they said they heard someone shouting. … They believed it to be a real event,” said Sgt. James Prouty.
By morning, State Patrol asked anyone with information on the possible abduction to call investigators. They say someone involved in the prank contacted detectives, who were then able to identify all the people involved and confirm they were safe.
According to a State Patrol news release, six members of one family and two family friends carried out the prank.
“According to the testimonies, the family had been planning the elaborate hoax for three weeks. Their idea was to play a ‘prank’ on the youngest kids, aged 11 and 15 years old, by turning a scavenger hunt into an ‘escape room-style kidnapping,’” according to the release.
According to State Patrol, a 17-year-old led the two younger children to Heritage Park, where six adults ages 20 to 28 were hiding in bushes. When the children arrived, the adults jumped out, restrained them and put them in the back of the family’s red Ford pickup.
State Patrol said it is sending its findings to Thurston County prosecutors to consider filing charges against the people involved in the prank.
“The family believed the prank would be a fun opportunity for the family and didn’t realize the serious implications it would bring,” the release said.
The Washington State Patrol says an abduction at Olympia’s Heritage Park on Wednesday night was a hoax.
In a tweet Thursday morning, the State Patrol said those involved have been identified and confirmed safe.
“The abduction was the hoax, not the report. When the witnesses were interviewed, they said they heard someone shouting … They believed it to be a real event,” said Sgt. James Prouty.
Earlier Thursday morning, the Patrol put out a news release with details on the incident, calling it a possible abduction.
Witnesses told detectives five or six men dressed in white plastic jumpsuits and hoods grabbed three victims and restrained them with zip ties. According to witnesses, the victims were asking for help and for someone to call 911, and that one of the victims was a girl between the ages of 4 and 6.
Prouty said investigators received tips Thursday that led them to the people involved. He said detectives are investigating and will work with prosecutors on potential charges related to the incident.