Washington state abduction turns out to be 'escape-room style prank,' officials say
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What appeared to be an abduction near a Washington state park Wednesday night turned out to be an elaborate prank involving members of the same family, officials said.
Washington state troopers responded to a report of a possible kidnapping in downtown Olympia near Heritage Park at about 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, according to Q13 FOX. Witnesses told police about six men in white plastic jumpsuits grabbed three people, zip-tied their arms and threw them into the back of a truck. Police release surveillance footage of the truck used in the frightening incident early Thursday.
But about 10 hours later, state troopers received a call saying the abduction was fake. The prank was planned three weeks in advance and involved six members of a family, ages 20 to 28, officials said. The group targeted an 11- and 15-year-old in what they called an “escape-room style kidnapping,” officials said. A 17-year-old led the youngsters through the park to set up the "kidnapping," police said.
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The family thought it would be fun and didn’t think there would have been any consequences to their actions, according to investigators. A member of the group was the person to initially tell officials what happened.
“We take this seriously when people have been abducted, especially a child, we want to make sure that person is safe,” Washington State Patrol Sergeant James Prouty told reporters. “It’s a relief you don’t have a child out there that’s been abducted. Definitely a relief.”
The case will be turned over to Thurston County prosecutors to determine whether charges will be filed.