A father has been accused of assaulting and attempting to kidnap his daughter at Timberline High School in Lacey on Oct. 18.
The incident occurred in the afternoon at a bus stop near the school and in the presence of many witnesses, including students, according to court records.
Ali Ihsan, a 44-year-old Lacey resident, allegedly got into an argument with his 17-year-old daughter, put her in a choke-hold and punched her 16-year-old boyfriend, according to court records.
Both Ihsan Ali and his 40-year-old wife, Zahraa Subhi Mohsin Ali, allegedly took part in the attempted kidnapping, court records show. The teens reportedly managed to escape from the parents and fled into the school, prompting staff to lockdown the campus.
The teens told police that the girl’s parents wanted to take her to another country for an arranged marriage, and her father threatened to kill her if she did not cooperate, according to court records.
Prosecutors charged Ali Ihsan, the girl’s father, with first-degree attempted kidnapping, domestic violence, and second-degree assault, domestic violence, as well as fourth-degree assault in Thurston County Superior Court on Wednesday.
Ali Ihsan appeared in court for his preliminary hearing on Monday. Judge John Skinder found probable cause for the alleged crimes and set bail at $150,000. In doing so, Skinder determined there is a substantial danger Ali Ihsan would commit a violent crime and interfere with the case.
Thurston County jail records indicate Ali Ihsan has been released from jail. However, he’s required to wear a GPS tracking unit and have no contact with his daughter and wife by court order.
Meanwhile, Zahraa Ali has been accused of second-degree assault, domestic violence, second-degree burglary and violation of a protection order. Judge Christopher Lanese found probable cause for the alleged crimes during a Thursday hearing and set bail for Zahraa Ali at $500,000.
Lanese determined the court could not be assured she would attend her next court hearing, there exists a substantial danger she will commit a violent crime and she may interfere with the case.
Additionally, Lanese barred Zahraa Ali from contacting her daughter, her daughter’s boyfriend and Timberline High School.
Zahraa Ali remained in custody at the jail as of Friday, according to the jail roster.
Both Ihsan and Zahraa Ali were ordered to surrender their passports when released from custody.
Neither of them has known criminal convictions, according to court records.
The investigation
Probable cause statements filed in court for Ihsan and Zahraa Ali’s cases describe the investigation into the Oct. 18 incident from the perspective of law enforcement.
Multiple witnesses called 911 to report a man, later identified as Ihsan Ali, had a girl in a choke hold. She eventually got away from Ihsan Ali and a bystander pinned down Ihsan Ali near the bus stop until law enforcement arrived.
Timberline High School administrators also called law enforcement to report the school had been placed on lockdown due to the incident.
An officer arrived at the scene at about 2:20 p.m. and detained Ihsan Ali in his patrol vehicle. He recognized Ihsan Ali because he spoke to him earlier in the day about a “runaway call,” court records show.
Witnesses reportedly told police that Ihsan Ali grabbed his daughter by the shoulder and began to speak with her in a different language. He then allegedly wrapped both arms around her neck and tried to pull her away.
The girl’s boyfriend reportedly tried to intervene but Ihsan Ali punched him in the face, according to court records.
Witness said the girl went limp and appeared to lose consciousness while her boyfriend and multiple people tried to pry Ihsan Ali off of her. The girl regained consciousness once she was freed from Ihsan Ali, but then Zahraa Ali allegedly tried to grab her by the neck as well.
The girl reportedly broke free with help from her boyfriend and the teens fled into the school. Zahraa Ali followed them inside but school staff stopped her at a set of double doors, according to court records.
Officers reviewed surveillance footage of the incident that reportedly showed Zahraa Ali trailing the teens through the front doors of the school.
After being blocked, Zahraa Ali exited the building and attempted to find a side entrance. The school principal then stepped out and told her to leave, court records say.
First responders transported the girl to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia for treatment and a strangulation exam.
An officer later visited the girl at the hospital. She told the officer that both her parents tried to choke her and she fell in and out of consciousness. She also accused her older sister of aiding her parents during the incident.
The girl reportedly told the officer she believed her father was trying to kill her.
Additionally, she told the officer that a school counselor was helping her find housing and her plan was to take a city bus when school got out.
Notably, the school’s assistant principal served Zahraa Ali a trespass letter on Sept. 17, a day after she allegedly grabbed and yelled at a high school student, according to court records.
The letter warned her that she would be trespassed from any North Thurston Public School property.
The girl’s boyfriend corroborated the girl’s story and told officers he had a protection order against Zahraa Ali that was served to her on Oct. 16.
His mother reportedly told police she was present during a previous Child Protective Services interview with the girl where she accused Ihsan Ali of threatening her with an “honor killing” for refusing an arranged marriage with an older man in another country.
The boyfriend’s father filed for a civil protection order against Ihsan Ali on behalf of his son on Oct. 21. Court Commissioner Megan Rue granted a temporary order the same day, according to court records.
In his filing, the boyfriend’s father wrote that school staff had asked his son to help the girl to the bus stop. He wrote school staff put this situation “in the lap of my child as if he’s an adult and understands the gravity of everything.”
He wrote the girl was scared for her life due to previous threats from her parents and he believes Ihsan Ali should be charged with attempted murder.
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