Vancouver man accused in kidnapping case

A Vancouver man was in court Monday after he allegedly wandered into a stranger’s home and asked a 7-year-old girl inside to leave with him, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Matthew S. Ellison, 38, appeared in Clark County Superior Court on allegations of residential burglary and second-degree kidnapping stemming from the Halloween-night incident.

Court records state that police were dispatched at about 8:50 p.m. Saturday to a house in the 6000 block of Northeast 17th Avenue for a report of a drunk man breaking into the home.

Police located Ellison in the road just north of the residence. He allegedly told police that it was his birthday, and he had been drinking at a bar and was walking home, the affidavit said. Ellison admitted to walking into the victim’s house but said he couldn’t explain why, adding that the house didn’t look like his and he knew it wasn’t his, court documents said.

The homeowners told police that they found Ellison in their daughter’s room sitting on her bed. The girl said Ellison had come into her room and told her it was his birthday. He then extended his hand, she said, and asked her to come with him. The girl said she became scared and kicked him, according to court records.

During his hearing, Judge Scott Collier appointed Ellison a defense attorney and set his bail at $75,000.

Ellison will be arraigned Nov. 13.