A 29-year-old man was arrested and charged after he assaulted two separate women in Kentwood within hours of each other on May 12, 2026, police said. One victim was a 66-year-old woman. The other was a 14-year-old girl he attempted to kidnap.

Two attacks, one suspect

According to the Kentwood Police Department, the first incident occurred between 5:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on Poinsettia Avenue SE. A 66-year-old woman was working in her yard when a man stopped his vehicle and approached her.

The woman told officers the suspect started a conversation, made unwanted advances, and then physically assaulted her. She reported the incident to police the following afternoon.

"The suspect stopped his vehicle, spoke with her, made unwanted advances, and physically assaulted her," according to Kentwood Police Department reports.

A teenager fights off an attacker

Just over an hour later, police responded to a call on the 1800 block of Rondo Street SE east of Kalamazoo Avenue, according to WOOD TV 8. Officers were dispatched around 6:40 p.m. after receiving a report of an attempted kidnapping.

Home surveillance video reviewed by police showed a black vehicle pulling up next to a sidewalk. A man exited the driver side door and lunged toward a teenager walking by, according to the police report.

The 14-year-old girl told investigators the suspect physically assaulted her and tried to restrain her. She fought back and sustained the suspect with minor injuries before he returned to his vehicle and fled.

Surveillance and witness statements lead to arrest

Detectives combined witness statements and surveillance footage to identify John Moore, 29, as the suspect in both attacks. Moore was arrested and booked into the Kent County Correctional Facility within 24 hours of the incidents, according to all three outlets covering the story.

Moore faces charges of:

• Assault and Battery
• Unlawful Imprisonment

Police ask for tips

Investigators are asking anyone who saw suspicious activity in either area to come forward. They are also asking anyone aware of similar unreported incidents to contact authorities.

Neighbors can reach out through:

• Kentwood Police Department: 616-656-6580
• Silent Observer: 616-774-2345 or online at silentobserver.org

The cases highlight how quickly a single suspect can target multiple residents in a short window. The fact that the 14-year-old was able to fight off her attacker may have been the difference between a kidnapping and an arrest.