Woman charged for kidnapping attempt

Took child with father nearby

MOSES LAKE - A 21-year-old Waterville woman was charged with attempting to kidnap a 2-year-old boy from a car in Moses Lake.

Keelyn R. Craig, 21, Waterville, was charged with attempted kidnapping, possession of methamphetamine and marijuana in Grant Count Superior Court, according to the clerk's office.

Craig allegedly opened the back door of a 2001 red Hyundai Elantra in the parking lot of a hotel in Moses Lake, and began removing a 2-year-old boy from his car seat while his father sat in the driver's seat, according to court records.

Initially, a hotel employee called police to report a woman possibly car prowling. A few minutes later, as police were responding, a second call reported the attempted kidnapping.

The three Moses Lake officers reportedly found the woman with the child in the parking lot.

"(The father) asked Craig what she was doing. Craig mumbled something about her nephew and (the father) went back to where Craig was at and told her to give him his son back," a Moses Lake officer wrote in the initial report. "Craig gave the child back after a few moments."

The father told police the child was not hurt. The mother was in the hotel and did not see what took place.

Officers noted in their reports Craig was allegedly "mumbling" and one stated she, "continued to chatter without saying anything."

Police searched the parking lot and found a man sitting in a 1996 Ford Fiesta with an Ohio license plate. Gideon T. Merchant, 22, Bridgeport, was arrested on warrants, one from Port Orchard for driving under the influence. In Grant County Superior Court, Merchant is charged with possession of methamphetamine.

The car Merchant was sitting in was registered to Craig. Court records show the registration lists her as a resident of Columbus, Ohio.

When searching the vehicle, an officer located a zippered bag containing an electronic scale, 11.8 grams of marijuana, small clear plastic bags, empty time release capsules and a prescription bottle with 14.2 grams of methamphetamine inside, according to court records.

Craig and Merchant are scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 12. She is being held in jail with bail set at $5,000 and Merchant's bail was set at $10,000.