Police Media Release

UPDATE: (10/17, 3:30 p.m.) Domestic Violence Kidnapping Suspect in Custody.

On 10-16-2022 at 12:56 p.m., Lacey Police were dispatched to an unknown trouble call in the 3800 block of Rossberg St SE. Dispatch advised they could hear muffled screaming and sounds of a struggle. Officers arrived and found the garage door to the residence open. Shortly thereafter the children of the resident arrived home and told officers their mother and father were at the home when they left to go to the store about a half an hour prior. Officers cleared the home and no one was located. There was used duct tape found in the home; it is believed to have been used on the victim.

The resident, Young An, has a domestic violence protection order against her estranged husband, Chae An. An Endangered Missing Persons Alert was sent through WSP and notifications were sent to phones in Thurston and Pierce Counties as well as being posted on social media.

Lacey Detectives, Patrol Officers, and members of the Lacey Community Resource Unit canvassed the neighborhood and recovered several security videos from residents. One video shows Chae pulling his van into the garage, shutting the door briefly and then leaving just before officers arrived.

On 10-17-2022 at 12:52AM, a resident of Stedman Road SE was awakened by Young pounding on their door asking for help. Young told the residents Chae was trying to kill her. Thurston County Deputies responded and contacted Young who had sustained non life threatening injuries. Young told Lacey Detectives Chae had kidnapped her from her residence and drove her into the woods. Young was able to escape and walked 20-30 minutes through the woods to the Stedman Road residence. Young was transported to the hospital for treatment of her injuries.

At 7:38AM, a citizen walking on a trail located the suspect vehicle approximately 200 yards off of Stedman Road in the woods. Thurston County Deputies and Lacey Police Department Officers quickly responded to the area and located the vehicle. At 8:02AM, the suspect was taken into custody without incident. Chae will be booked on multiple felony domestic violence charges once he is medically cleared