MUKILTEO—On Saturday, July 20, just a little after 5 p.m., Esmeralda Flores, 22, and her boyfriend paid a visit to Mukilteo Lighthouse Park to enjoy a picnic on the waterfront. They set up to the right of a young girl, around the age of sixteen, laying on the ground reading a book. 

Shortly after Flores noticed, in her peripheral, a man standing close to the girl “staring at her,” Flores told the Lynnwood Times, which she initially thought was odd. It wasn’t until the man took out his phone and began taking pictures of the girl that she began to grow concerned. 

This took place for several hours, Flores added, from 7 p.m. until closing—the man, according to her, “intentionally” standing at the girl’s blind spot, staring, occasionally taking pictures of her, and periodically talking on the phone to someone in a language she identified as Russian or Ukrainian. 

The man was described by Flores as possibly being Middle Eastern, having a beard, possibly 5-foot-seven, with a buzz cut, wearing a black t-shirt. 

Flores recognized the man, having seen him once before also at the Mukilteo waterfront at that time accompanied by another man that, she said, appeared to be Russian or Ukrainian. During this instance, she witnessed the two men flirtatiously interact with several young women, Flores informed the Lynnwood Times. 

That same man continued to stare and take pictures of the young girl last Friday. Flores approached the girl to inform her of the situation whereupon, after pointing him out, the man noticed and left the area, she said. 

Flores is no stranger to stalking and knew what signs to look out for, she shared. Just a few months earlier she was followed home from work—she works night shifts at a warehouse—twice in the same week by the same car. 

The car was a Jeep with tinted windows which followed her for about two miles. She intentionally made turns to try and lose the vehicle, but the driver continued to make the same turns. In one case, the car stopped in the middle of the road and watched her for several minutes, Flores said. 

After a while, the driver must have picked up that Flores was aware that she was being followed and stopped pursuing. 

“It gets scary because you just never know,” said Flores. “I didn’t want to confront him because I didn’t know if he had a gun, if he had a knife, anything.” 

Flores’ message to other women who may suspect they’re being stalked to “never approach,” always be aware of your surroundings, and go to a crowded place to try and find someone to inform them of the situation. 

According to Colt Davis, Assistant Chief of Police for the Mukilteo Police Department, reports of stalking in Mukilteo are very rare but they do occur from time-to-time. 

He informed the Lynnwood Times the Mukilteo Police Department takes stalking incidents very seriously. 

On the incident that took place last Saturday at the waterfront, Davis said that Mukilteo PD Officers responded to the call as soon as they could and talked to both the victim and the suspect to understand the situation. An arrest was not made as there was no crime being committed under state law. 

Davis added that the Mukilteo Police station is always open to those feeling like they’re being stalked. There is a locking vestibule inside the lobby which prevents people from entering, if necessary. 

In his 17-years working for the Mukilteo PD, Davis has witnessed this vestibule feature in action once when an active stalking incident led a desperate woman to the police station. The vestibule was locked, and the stalker was waiting right outside. He was promptly arrested, and the victim was provided various resources, Davis said. 

“Everyone has good instincts and good intuition. If there’s something going on that you’re unsure about call 911,” said Davis. 

Here are some resources for victims of crime in Snohomish County, including stalking victims:

• National Resources: Call (202) 467-8700 or email info@victimsofcrime.org
• Snohomish County Victim Resources: Includes links to protection order assistance, victim rights, and more
• Domestic Violence Services of Snohomish County: A non-profit organization that provides 24-hour support, emergency shelter, and other services to victims of domestic abuse. Their phone number is (425) 25-ABUSE (425-252-2873).
• Other resources:
  • Dawson Place Child Advocacy Center: Offers services for victims of child abuse
  • Providence Intervention Center for Assault and Abuse: Offers services for victims of sexual assault
  • Victim Support Services: Offers resources and advocacy for victims and survivors of violent crime
  • YWCA Housing and Shelter for Snohomish County: Offers housing for women and their children