KELSO, WASHINGTON — A young girl was grabbed by a stranger while trick-or-treating on Halloween night, and police are still searching for the man responsible. The incident happened on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in a residential neighborhood of Kelso. Police are also looking into reports of a white van that appeared to be following groups of children that evening. So far, no arrests have been made, and detectives say they have no viable leads.
Girl Grabbed by the Arm on Laurel Street
According to People, the Kelso Police Department said the girl was walking along the street when an unidentified man walked up and grabbed her by the arm. Officers were called to the 700 block of Laurel Street at around 7 p.m.
The girl fought back and pulled herself free. She then ran away and reached safety. Police have not released her name or age, and there was no report of injuries.
Neighbor Reported a Van Following Children
While officers were responding, another resident called emergency dispatchers with a separate concern. The caller said a white van was moving slowly through the neighborhood and seemed to be following groups of children collecting candy.
Police searched the area for both the man and the van, but neither was found. Officers also asked people living nearby whether their home security cameras or doorbell cameras had recorded anything useful. That effort did not turn up any video of the encounter.
Limited Description of the Suspect
The girl described the man as wearing a black hoodie and dark denim jeans. Police have not released further details about his appearance, such as his height, age or build.
The limited description has made the search more difficult. Investigators are hoping someone who was out on Halloween may remember seeing a man dressed that way near the area at the time.
Similar Van Report in Nearby City
The case soon caught the attention of police in the neighboring city of Longview. The Longview Police Department said it had received a similar report about a suspicious white van acting erratically around children who were trick-or-treating that night.
It is unclear whether the two reports involve the same van. But because the two cities are so close together, investigators are considering the possibility that the van traveled between them that evening.
Case Moved to Inactive Status
There has been little progress in identifying the man who grabbed the girl. On Tuesday, November 3, Kelso Police Captain Mark Berglund told local media that the case had been moved to inactive status because detectives had no viable leads.
That does not mean police have stopped looking. Investigators are asking anyone who was near Laurel Street on Halloween evening to come forward, especially if they saw a white van or a man matching the girl’s description. Anyone with information can contact the Kelso Police Department at (360) 423-1270. The case is also a reminder for families to keep young children within sight while out in the neighborhood.
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