The Pierce County Prosecutor’s Office has announced that no charges will be filed against a man arrested in connection with a recent Amber Alert involving a 2-year-old girl from Tacoma. The decision followed an investigation that indicated there was no evidence of criminal intent by the individual who left with the child.
The incident took place in June when the man, who remains unnamed, found the child, Delilah, outside a restaurant and attempted to find her parents. After being informed that an employee would call the police, he left with the child but was later apprehended due to an outstanding warrant related to a previous incident.
Prosecutors explained that police detectives interviewed the man on the day the Amber Alert was issued and did not charge him at that time. Adam Faber, a spokesperson for the prosecutor’s office, emphasized that the investigation revealed Delilah was unharmed during her time with the suspect. He noted the father’s perspective played a significant role in the decision, as Jayda Everett, Delilah’s father, publicly defended the man’s actions, stating he did not wish to see him prosecuted.
The prosecutor’s office reiterated that the standard protocol in such situations is to contact law enforcement instead of taking action independently. Everett confirmed that his daughter was safe and unscathed after the incident.
This development highlights a complex situation where community safety protocols and parental perspectives intersect, emphasizing the importance of following proper procedures in similar circumstances.