Bikini barista’s alleged kidnapper released on bail in Washington

The King County Prosecutor's office told The Post Millennial that they argued that Matthew William Darnell, 38, should be held on $500,000 bail. At a hearing on Tuesday, the judge allowed him to post a $50,000 appearance bond, 10 percent on the $500,000 bail amount. King County prosecutors argued that if he was able to post bond that he should also have electronic home monitoring ordered by the court. The judge agree and ordered electronic home monitoring.

Darnell’s trial is scheduled to begin next month.

At approximately 5 am on January 16, surveillance footage captured a man attempting to drag the barista through a drive-thru window during the suspected kidnapping attempt at Beankini Espresso on the 2200 block of Auburn Way in Auburn, Washington.

In a video that was released by local authorities in an effort to locate the suspect, the female barista hands a male customer driving an SUV some change, and he grabbed hold of her hand and forcefully yanked it towards him.

The suspect then “attempted to drag the victim through the window using a looped zip tie device,” according to police.

The barista managed to pull her arm back into the window and close it, suffering minor cuts to her arm, and the man sped off, with some dollar bills falling to the ground.

Police used the vehicle information and a distinct tattoo on the suspect’s left forearm that spelled out “Chevrolet” to identify him. Darnell was arrested the following day. In his first court appearance, the judge found probable cause for Attempted Kidnapping Second Degree.

Staff at the coffee stand told the Daily Mail that the shop is equipped with a silent panic button, metal doors, and surveillance cameras and that staff are allowed to have mace and tasers.