A quiet Kentwood afternoon turned violent in one hour

A 29-year-old Kentwood man is behind bars after police say he attacked two women in the same afternoon. The incidents happened one mile apart on May 12. One victim is a 14-year-old girl walking home from school. The other is a 66-year-old woman gardening near her mailbox.

Kentwood Police identified the suspect as John Moore. He is charged with assault and battery and unlawful imprisonment. Moore remains held at the Kent County Correctional Facility as of Wednesday evening. He has not posted bond.

The attempted kidnapping on Rondo Street

At approximately 6:40 p.m., officers responded to a report in the 1800 block of Rondo Street SE. Surveillance video from a homeowner's garage captured the attack.

"She was approached by a dark colored SUV, stopped in the roadway, jumped out and began attacking her," said Tim Wierenga, a captain with the Kentwood Police Department. "She was able to heroically fight [him] off."

The 14-year-old girl was walking on the sidewalk when Moore pulled up beside her in a black vehicle. He exited the driver's side door and lunged toward her. She fought back and sustained no injuries. Moore had blood on his clothes from the struggle. Two witnesses called 911. Moore fled back to his SUV and drove away.

"That victim absolutely saved her own life that day, she did amazing things and fought hard and made that suspect jump back in the car and take off," Wierenga told WOODTV.

Police say the girl and Moore did not know each other. Wierenga called the attack a "very random situation."

The assault on Poinsettia Avenue

Less than an hour earlier, Moore allegedly attacked someone else. The incident occurred between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Poinsettia Avenue SE, roughly one mile northwest of the second attack.

Mary Raab, 66, told WOODTV she was planting flowers by her mailbox when Moore pulled up. He told her his brother had died and that he was struggling with grief. He asked if he could use her restroom and wash his hands. Raab said no and directed him to a nearby gas station.

"He got out and said, 'I have had this very traumatic incident happen to me, my brother passed away and I am in deep grief and I do not know how to deal with it,'" Raab said. "I am thinking, well this is very weird."

When Raab went to shake Moore's hand, he pulled her into an embrace and tried to kiss her. She forced him to leave in his car. Raab called Kentwood Police the next day.

"Obviously age didn't matter to him, he was just looking for a victim. But I am glad I kept my head, I am glad I didn't let him into my house," Raab said.

A history of sexual offenses

Moore is not new to law enforcement. According to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by WZZM13, Moore has a history of sexual offenses dating back to 2023. He is listed on the Michigan sex offender registry.

Less than a year ago, Moore was sentenced to jail and probation for accosting women at two Meijer stores. Police say he recorded an upskirt video in the restroom of a Clyde Park Meijer in 2023. He also walked around an Alpine Avenue Meijer telling female customers they had a spider on their back, then grabbed their behinds. Three women reported that ruse and assault.

Police ask for tips

Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed suspicious activity in the area or who may be aware of similar unreported incidents to contact the Kentwood Police Department at 616-656-6580. Anonymous tips can be submitted through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345 or online at the Silent Observer website.

Moore has a probable cause conference scheduled for Thursday morning.

"We had somebody who was out looking for this type of behavior, and luckily was slowed down real quick," Wierenga said. "We need to have conversations with our family members and make sure that they're understanding of how they should handle something if they're brought into that type of situation."