Campus security guard thwarts attempted kidnapping
»Play Video
WENATCHEE, Wash. -- A security guard at Wenatchee Valley College is being hailed as a hero after police say he helped thwart the attempted kidnapping of an 11-year-old girl.
Campus security officer Kevin Edwards said he was making his hourly rounds Saturday when he noticed what he described as a suspicious-looking man. Edwards, 34, kept an eye on the man as the man approached a young girl near the campus library and then put his hands on the girl's shoulders.
"It wasn't until I heard her yell out, 'I don't want to go with you!' that I decided I was going to run in and find out what was going on and try to break this up," Edwards said. "I honestly started trembling. I could hear my heart in my ears."
Edwards, who has been a security guard at the college for about three and a half years, said the girl ran off to tell her parents what happened while he called police and detained the suspect.
Police later arrested John Graff, 43, on suspicion of attempted kidnapping. Graff, who has several prior arrests on his criminal record, is being held on $100,000 bail.
"In our mind he prevented a kidnapping of a small girl," said John Kruse of the Wenatchee Police Department. "(Kevin) did some great work."
The most unexpected of accolades, however, came to Edwards on Wednesday as he was walking through campus. A student there - gray hoodie sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers - came up to him to recognize him for his heroics.
"Thank you," the woman said, as she shook Edwards' hand. "We're very grateful."
Turns out the woman isn't just any student; she is the girl's mother.
"Nobody thinks that if their kid takes a walk there's going to be an issue," said Sunnie Blagg, her voice tinged with emotion, after meeting Edwards for the first time.
"You just take that for granted. You can never take anything anymore for granted in this world. We're just happy this is a happy outcome and that she's home with us."
Edwards, who also helped police solve another crime in 2010 after a burglar ran through campus, said he is humbled by the experience.
"People have called me a hero and what-not. I, myself, don't believe I'm a hero," he said. "I believe I'm just one man in a million who just happened to save a girl because it was the right thing to do."
Campus security officer Kevin Edwards said he was making his hourly rounds Saturday when he noticed what he described as a suspicious-looking man. Edwards, 34, kept an eye on the man as the man approached a young girl near the campus library and then put his hands on the girl's shoulders.
"It wasn't until I heard her yell out, 'I don't want to go with you!' that I decided I was going to run in and find out what was going on and try to break this up," Edwards said. "I honestly started trembling. I could hear my heart in my ears."
Edwards, who has been a security guard at the college for about three and a half years, said the girl ran off to tell her parents what happened while he called police and detained the suspect.
Police later arrested John Graff, 43, on suspicion of attempted kidnapping. Graff, who has several prior arrests on his criminal record, is being held on $100,000 bail.
"In our mind he prevented a kidnapping of a small girl," said John Kruse of the Wenatchee Police Department. "(Kevin) did some great work."
The most unexpected of accolades, however, came to Edwards on Wednesday as he was walking through campus. A student there - gray hoodie sweatshirt, jeans, and sneakers - came up to him to recognize him for his heroics.
"Thank you," the woman said, as she shook Edwards' hand. "We're very grateful."
Turns out the woman isn't just any student; she is the girl's mother.
"Nobody thinks that if their kid takes a walk there's going to be an issue," said Sunnie Blagg, her voice tinged with emotion, after meeting Edwards for the first time.
"You just take that for granted. You can never take anything anymore for granted in this world. We're just happy this is a happy outcome and that she's home with us."
Edwards, who also helped police solve another crime in 2010 after a burglar ran through campus, said he is humbled by the experience.
"People have called me a hero and what-not. I, myself, don't believe I'm a hero," he said. "I believe I'm just one man in a million who just happened to save a girl because it was the right thing to do."
Especially since this is the second time he contributed to the safety of the community, Wenatchee PD should hire him. Some people can just sense a problem, and then do something about it! Most just go through blissfully unaware of their surroundings. Good job, Kevin Edwards! Â
This man is a hero,in my book! He not only noticed this person,he kept an eye on the situation! When the young girl spoke,he went into action! The young girl also did the right thing,by saying what she said. Both of them did what they needed to do!
You are one in a million, Kevin. In this cold, hard, ''I'm going to look the other way'' world.. It would be easy to come up with a million people that would not have taken hands on action. You sir, are one that did. Job or not.
Mr. Edward's keen eye and the girl's yell stopped this whole action from going very, very wrong. The parents and I'm supposing her school teachers did a great job instilling the cry "I don't want to go with you!" into her brain. Mr. Edward's acted on that point to stop and detain the suspect, to which he does deserve a hero's honor.
Â
And so does the little girl. She did herself a big favor and opened her mouth. Kudos to you, young lady!Â
You are a credit to the profession sir and I hope that the community and the college recognize you for your efforts.
This comment has been deleted
 @Dr. Rawdog >'That's kind of his job'
Â
Don't know about the security company Mr Edwards works for, but many of them train to 'observe and report' only. They're more concerned about the liability if one of their rentacops gets hurt by intervening.Â
Â
I'd agree with your comment that the term 'hero' does get thrown about too frequently, but I'm of the opinion that ANYTHING an adult does to protect or defend a child earns the title.Â
Depending on the security company, you may get a good guard, or a "Average" one. I remember working at the shipyards when a woman attacked her bf with a baseball bat. The guard did nothing but watch the whole incident. Because he did see her approach and swing, he let her get 1-2 good licks before his buddies helped him. After that, the security company was replaced.
@disgustedman I, myself, was a Rent-a-cop at a huge construction site back in the mid sixties. The security comapny was American Patrol Service. They paid us a buck seventy an hour, and gave us a .38 to strap on. They just said, "Here. Wear this." Never asked me if I had seen a gun before. Glad those days are gone.
Mr Edwards, just in doing his job, does earn (IMO) the title of hero. Likewise, the girl deserves some accolaids for her willingness and ability to react appropriately in a potentially dire situation. Note that she did not scream out 'help' or just 'no', 'leave me alone', etc... Terms that could be confused by people. Instead, she was very specific about what she was reacting to.Â
Â
Too bad Mr Edwards didn't put a .38 round in the head of the cretin who was attempting to grab her. But, that's a whole other rant.Â
go'n all arlo on us hey ?
Â
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NzFJxX8yoY
 @sargerator In a general sense, no. Killing for the sake of killing is not my idea of fun. Lets just say that there are some among us whom I would not shed too many tears if they were shaken loose of the mortal coil.Â
 @MarkKpic Now, don't get me wrong here, because I am pro-firearms, but Mr. Edwards did stop and detain the guy without gun violence. I don't think that he should make the decision if he should live or die for his crime. I would rather leave that up to the judicial system. We know they wont.  But, that within itself is another rant.Â
@J kret @MarkKpic Good post.
 @J kret  @MarkKpic Fair enough. I suppose it's fair to say that I'm a bit knee-jerk when it comes to issues of adult on child crime. The current judicial quagmire that so often is the result of such detestable individuals probably does little to help assuage my anger.Â
Â
But, you are correct. It should be left up to the courts and the judicial system to deal with Mr Graff and his demonstrated behavioral patterns.Â
 @MarkKpic  @J kret Ya I bet if you looked at this guys rap sheet you would find out the justice system failed us miserably and the guy should still be in jail if common sense even remotely entered the justice system...
But you are a hero. Lots of people would just not want to get involved. Thank you for being one of the good guys.