A man accused of attempting to kidnap a 7-year-old girl from her mother in a crowded Portland park has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Daniel Vasey, 31, appeared in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Monday, denying charges including first-degree attempted kidnapping, second-degree attempted kidnapping, first-degree custodial interference, third-degree assault, and harassment. The incident occurred Saturday evening at Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
Police allege Vasey, who was naked, grabbed the child by one arm and attempted to pull her away from her mother, who clung to her daughter and fought back. The child's father and bystanders intervened, with one individual pepper-spraying Vasey. The girl sustained minor scratches and bruises. Vasey was taken into custody by officers after wading into the Willamette River.
The case has drawn significant attention due to the alleged attack and claims of a delayed police response. Witnesses reported that officers took between 30 and 45 minutes to arrive at the scene, despite the park being just blocks from the Portland Police's Central Precinct. This occurred despite multiple 911 calls reporting a naked, erratic man in the park prior to the attempted kidnapping. One caller reported Vasey had attempted to assault him earlier.
Portland Deputy Chief Brian Hughes acknowledged the strain on the police force, stating, "We don’t have the appropriate amount of police officers to handle the amount of demand for police services." He explained that only 11 officers were on duty at Central Precinct at the time, significantly below the bureau's minimum staffing target of 17. Officers were reportedly engaged in responding to other emergencies, including a weapons call that required backup.
Vasey has been held on bail and has denied all charges. Authorities have not yet released a motive for the alleged attempted kidnapping. Reports also indicate Vasey had been arrested in a neighboring city hours before the incident before appearing in downtown Portland, adding further scrutiny to the case and police procedures.
