Authorities say a witness helped deputies find the suspect after a woman was forced into a car.
PARKLAND, WA — Pierce County sheriff’s deputies arrested a 29-year-old man this week after a bystander reported seeing a woman forced into a black vehicle in Parkland, authorities and prosecutors said.
The arrest has drawn attention because investigators say the suspect and victim knew each other, the woman had a protection order, and prosecutors described a history of violence involving the same man and woman. The case now moves through Pierce County Superior Court as deputies continue to investigate what happened before and after the woman was put into the car.
Deputies were called about 2:20 p.m. May 5 after a bystander reported seeing a woman being forced into a black vehicle near the 600 block of 115th Street East, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies were still speaking with the witness when the black car drove by and the witness pointed it out. Deputies stopped the vehicle and arrested the driver, identified by prosecutors as Randy Smith. “We knew that something was wrong. We knew we had a female that needed help,” Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carly Cappetto said.
The sheriff’s office said deputies later learned the driver had dropped the 24-year-old woman out of the car after seeing law enforcement nearby. Deputies found her in the neighborhood a few minutes later. The woman had fresh marks on her body and appeared fearful, authorities said. A second woman who walked away from the scene was stopped by deputies, said she was not involved and was released at the scene. Investigators said the case remains open, and officials have not said whether that woman could face later action.
Smith was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping, assault and violating a court order. Prosecutors later charged him with multiple crimes tied to the incident, including kidnapping, assault and court order violations. Prosecutors said the victim is pregnant and that Smith is the father of her children. Court records described by prosecutors show the woman had an active domestic violence protection order against him. Investigators also said Smith had been released from prison about six months earlier after serving time for a prior attack involving the same woman.
The case is also linked by prosecutors to an earlier alleged assault. Authorities said Smith went to the victim’s home last month and attacked her with a hammer despite the protection order. Court documents cited by investigators identified Smith’s mother as the person driving a vehicle during that earlier incident. Investigators said Smith’s mother was also present during the May 5 kidnapping investigation. Body-camera video from the arrest showed Smith calling for his mother, though authorities have not said whether she is accused of a crime in the current case.
In court, the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office requested that bail be set at $100,000. A judge set bail at $75,000. The charges reported in the case include first-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault, fourth-degree assault and several felony counts involving violation of a court order. Earlier arrest information from the sheriff’s office also listed second-degree kidnapping and fourth-degree assault. The difference reflects the step between an initial arrest and later charging decisions by prosecutors. Smith remains presumed innocent unless convicted.
Parkland, an unincorporated community south of Tacoma, is patrolled by the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. The reported incident unfolded in a residential area during the afternoon, when a witness saw what appeared to be a woman in danger and called 911. Authorities credited that report with helping deputies quickly identify the vehicle. The sheriff’s office said deputies provided resources to the victim after finding her. Officials have not released her name, and no detailed medical update was made public.
The next steps are expected in Pierce County Superior Court, where prosecutors will pursue the filed charges and the defense will have a chance to respond. Investigators may still review body-camera video, interview witnesses and examine the timeline of the alleged kidnapping, including where the woman was taken, how long she was in the car and what role, if any, other people at the scene played. Authorities have not released a full probable cause statement in public reports.
For now, the case stands on the witness call, the traffic stop, the victim’s condition and the court records cited by prosecutors. Deputies say the woman was found nearby after being dropped from the vehicle. Smith’s bail was set at $75,000, and the investigation remained active as of May 7.
Author note: Last updated May 7, 2026.