Parents charged with assault and attempted kidnapping of daughter near Lacey High School over arranged marriage

A father has been charged with assault and attempted kidnapping of his daughter at Timberline High School in Lacey on Oct. 18.

According to court records, the incident took place in the afternoon at a bus stop near the school and in the presence of many witnesses, including students.

Ali Ihsan, a 44-year-old Lacey resident, allegedly got into an argument with his 17-year-old daughter, put her in a chokehold and punched her 16-year-old boyfriend, according to court records.

Both Ihsan Ali and his 40-year-old wife, Zahraa Subhi Mohsin Ali, allegedly took part in the attempted kidnapping, court records show. The teens reportedly managed to escape from the parents and fled into the school, prompting staff to lock down the campus.

The teens told police that the girl’s parents wanted to take her to another country for an arranged marriage, and that her father threatened to kill her if she did not cooperate, court records show.

Prosecutors charged Ali Ihsan, the girl’s father, with first-degree attempted kidnapping, domestic violence and second-degree assault, domestic violence, as well as fourth-degree assault in Thurston County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Ali Ihsan appeared in court on Monday for his preliminary hearing. Judge John Skinder found probable cause for the alleged crimes and set bail at $150,000. In doing so, Skinder determined that there was a substantial danger that Ali Ihsan would commit a violent crime and interfere with the case.

Thurston County jail records show Ali Ihsan has been released from jail. However, he is required to wear a GPS tracking device and is barred from contact with his daughter and wife by court order.

Meanwhile, Zahraa Ali has been charged with second-degree assault, domestic violence, second-degree burglary and violation of a protective order. Judge Christopher Lanese found probable cause for the alleged crimes during a hearing on Thursday and set bail for Zahraa Ali at $500,000.

Lanese determined that the court could not be assured that she would attend her next court hearing, that there was a significant risk that she would commit a violent crime and that she could interfere with the case.

Additionally, Lanese banned Zahraa Ali from contacting her daughter, her daughter’s boyfriend, and Timberline High School.

Zahraa Ali remained in custody at the prison as of Friday, according to the prison roster.

Both Ihsan and Zahraa Ali were ordered to surrender their passports when released from custody.

Neither has a criminal conviction, according to court records.

The research

Probable cause affidavits filed in court for Ihsan and Zahraa Ali’s cases describe the investigation into the October 18 incident from a law enforcement perspective.

Several witnesses called 911 to report that a man, later identified as Ihsan Ali, had a girl in a chokehold. She eventually managed to escape from Ihsan Ali and a bystander held Ihsan Ali at the bus stop until police arrived.

Timberline High School administrators also called police to report the school was on lockdown due to the incident.

An officer arrived on scene around 2:20 p.m. and detained Ihsan Ali in his patrol vehicle. He recognized Ihsan Ali because he spoke to him earlier in the day about a “runaway call,” court records show.

Witnesses reportedly told police that Ihsan Ali grabbed his daughter by the shoulder and started talking to her in a different language. He then allegedly wrapped both arms around her neck and tried to pull her away.

The girl’s boyfriend reportedly tried to intervene, but Ihsan Ali punched him in the face, according to court records.

A witness said the girl went limp and appeared to lose consciousness as her boyfriend and several people tried to pry Ihsan Ali from her. The girl regained consciousness when she was freed from Ihsan Ali, but then Zahraa Ali also allegedly tried to grab her by the neck.

The girl reportedly escaped with the help of her boyfriend and the teens fled into the school. Zahraa Ali followed them inside, but school staff stopped her at a double door, court records show.

Officers reviewed surveillance footage of the incident that showed Zahraa Ali following the teens through the front doors of the school.

After being blocked, Zahraa Ali left the building and tried to find a side entrance. The principal then stepped outside and told her to leave, court records show.

First responders took the girl to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia for treatment and a strangulation exam.

An officer later visited the girl in the hospital. She told the officer that both her parents tried to strangle her, causing her to drift unconscious. She also accused her elder sister of helping her parents during the incident.

The girl reportedly told the officer she believed her father was trying to kill her.

Additionally, she told the officer that a school counselor was helping her find housing and that her plan was to take a city bus when school lets out.

Notably, the school’s assistant principal sent Zahraa Ali a violation letter on September 17, a day after she allegedly grabbed and verbally abused a high school student, court records show.

The letter warned her that any North Thurston Public School property would be encroached upon.

The girl’s boyfriend confirmed the girl’s story and told officers he had a protective order against Zahraa Ali, which was served on her on October 16.

His mother reportedly told police that she was present during an earlier Child Protective Services interview with the girl, where she accused Ihsan Ali of threatening her with “honor killing” for having an arranged marriage to an older man in another country refused.

The friend’s father applied for a civil protection order against Ihsan Ali on behalf of his son on October 21. Court Commissioner Megan Rue issued a preliminary injunction the same day, court records show.

In his file, the friend’s father wrote that school staff asked his son to help the girl to the bus stop. He wrote that school staff placed this situation “in my child’s lap, as if he were an adult and understood the gravity of everything.”

He wrote that the girl feared for her life due to previous threats from her parents and he believes Ihsan Ali should be charged with attempted murder.