Police: Girl saved from river may have been assaulted
SNOHOMISH - The teenage girl saved from the Snohomish River earlier this month may have been assaulted, Snohomish Police Chief John Flood told the Tribune last week.
The 20-year-old male who was with the girl that day and also saved from the river has been identified by police as a suspect.
“The gentleman she was with has been identified as a potential suspect or person of interest,” Flood said. “We still have to interview him.”
Police found evidence of a sexual assault when the girl was examined at a hospital, Flood said, which led investigators to believe there was “more to it than her jumping in the river.”
The male faces potential charges.
The case has been referred to the sexual assault unit of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, Flood said.
The two were pulled from the river Monday, Feb. 6.
The two were rescued from the cold rapids of the Snohomish River near Cady Park.
Shelly Allan of Snohomish was kayaking in the area when the girl went into the water. Allan held the girl’s head above the water until rescue crews arrived. Initial reports suggested the girl had jumped into or otherwise ended up in the water, and the man jumped in after her.

By STEPHANIE KOSONEN
Published Feb. 22, 2012