Former Kennewick School District security guard arrested after teen found 200 miles from home

KENNEWICK, Wash. – The Kennewick Police Department has arrested a former Kennewick School District security guard after locating a missing 14-year-old in Gresham, Oregon.

In a news release, KPD said the 14-year-old’s parents reported her missing on June 25. A week later, police learned the teen had been with a former high school security guard, a 26-year-old man from West Richland.

Nonstop Local typically does not name suspects until they are formally charged.

Officials said they questioned the man and his 22-year-old wife but did not find the teen at his current workplace or home. With help from the FBI, investigators determined the man dropped the teen off in Gresham on July 2 with food, cash, a cellphone and personal items. The investigation says the 14-year-old asked for a ride out of state so they could catch a train to California.

Investigators, including Gresham police, reunited the 14-year-old with his parents late in the evening of July 3. The 26-year-old was booked into the Benton County Jail for second-degree kidnapping, and his wife was released, and the investigation is ongoing.