A bikini-clad barista who was almost kidnapped by a zip-tie-wielding truck driver on Tuesday said she failed to recognize her alleged kidnapper, who was arrested 14 hours after police released startling surveillance footage chronicling the incident.
The nine-second security video, taken at 5:06 a.m. Monday, showed the chilling scene at the drive-thru Beankini Espresso in Auburn, Washington — a woman-owned coffee stand whose baristas serve in lingerie and bikinis.
Video shows the suspect attempting to pull the unnamed barista out of a window with a looped zip-tie-like device. The victim managed to fend off the attacker, who drove off after failing to rope the woman up.
In a bid to find the man, police in a Seattle suburb shared footage of the brief encounter in hopes a citizen could identify him.
Less than 14 hours later, a suspect, identified Wednesday as Matthew Darnell, was arrested at his Auburn home on charges of attempted kidnapping. Darnell, pictured during a court appearance, sports the same signature “Chevrolet” tattoo as the hijacker in the now widely circulated footage.
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A barista who was almost kidnapped by a zip-tie-wielding truck driver on Tuesday said she failed to recognize her alleged kidnapper, who was arrested 14 hours after police released chilling surveillance footage that captured the nearby call
The barista, who has worked at the drive-thru coffee stand for nine years, claimed Wednesday that she was accidentally attacked by the trucker, who was driving a Chevrolet Silverado.
On Wednesday, shortly after news of Darnell’s arrest broke, the victim told the incident was an “entirely random act” and asked not to be named.
Struck by the incident, she protested that she was grateful the woman-run shop puts employee safety first, revealing that the shop – which opens at 4:30am – is fitted with a silent panic button, metal doors and equipped with surveillance cameras.
To that end, employees are also allowed to carry maces and tasers, she said. The store is located on a busy street in the center of the suburb. The bikini-clad baristas are part of the café’s attraction.
The cafe is equipped with a silent panic button, metal doors and security cameras. Personnel may also have maces and tasers.
Beankini Espresso in Auburn, Washington is a woman-owned business that serves coffee and espresso through a drive-through window. Pictured: a former employee, not the victim
Speaking to Insider on Wednesday, the barista said she hopes the police have the right man so he can’t try to do this to anyone else.
“There is nothing more we should or could have done to prevent this,” the barista told Insider, reiterating the extensive security measures in place at the popular coffee stand, whose owner she said “puts our safety first.” “.
“We have maces, tasers, silent panic buttons, we have metal doors – extra precautions in case someone tries to kick in a door,” she said. “We have audio, video.”
She added to on Wednesday: “Our owner allows us to close the window on every customer and handle every situation as we feel comfortable. We may deny service to anyone for any reason.’
The alleged kidnapper grabbed the barista’s arm as she tried to hand him some cash through the window of his car
The barista returns cash to the suspect before ripping out zip ties and attempting to pull them through the drive-through window
It was this increased surveillance that led police to Darnell after investigators got a good look at the man they were looking for thanks to the short clip.
In the footage, as the man goes to the window to pay and give change, a prominent tattoo that reads “Chevrolet” can be seen on his arm. Lead was not lost to investigators, who on Tuesday were able to locate the suspect they believe is the driver of the Silverado.
Aside from his prominent tattoo, the suspect was seen grasping the woman’s arm with one hand while holding a looped zip tie in the other – before attempting to pull the victim out the window.
However, the barista fought back and luckily freed herself. The man was then forced to drive away, leaving behind dollar bills that the worker had handed him on the ground.
The bikini-clad baristas are part of the café’s attraction
On Monday morning when the incident occurred, the barista said her alleged kidnapper ordered and paid for a drink before demanding change for a $5 bill.
When she went back to give him the five one-dollar bills, the victim said he grabbed her. She told she and her colleagues had never seen him before.
On Tuesday, about half a day after the coffee worker’s near-call, police in Auburn arrested Darnell before identifying him the next day.
Photos show Darnell’s first court appearance in King’s County on Wednesday, at which a judge found there were sufficient probable causes to hold the suspect on a second-degree attempted kidnapping charge.
Darnell’s bail, currently awaiting trial at the King County Correctional Facility, has been set at $500,000, police and public records have confirmed.
It’s currently unclear if he had any connection to the barista or coffee business.
The predator drives away after the woman fights them off and slams the window
The barista struggled and finally got free before the man quickly sped off and some dollar bills fell to the ground
Although police were quick to make the arrest, several residents – including other baristas at nearby shops – have raised concerns about their safety.
A barista who owns a similar coffee stand, where staff wear bold uniforms, told KIRO 7 on Wednesday that she’s already in the process of making it more family-friendly, hoping to ward off such creeps as seen in the footage .
Auburn Police Department spokesman Kolby Crossley added: “They are in vulnerable positions because they usually inspect these spots themselves in the early hours of the morning when it’s dark outside.
“But this barista did a great job of protecting herself and fending off this person.”
Authorities added that they arrested the suspect after “overwhelming community support”.