Redmond Police arrested a former member of the USA Climbing Team on Wednesday, Feb. 2 on three separate charges of third-degree child rape.
Alexander Fritz, 28, of Seattle is accused of having sexual contact with underage athletes ranging from 15 to 16 years old. Fritz worked with climbing athletes as a coach and route-setter at Vertical World climbing gym in Redmond.
On Feb. 2, 2021, an investigator with the U.S. Center for SafeSport contacted Redmond Detective Marshall Tolbert with allegations of Fritz’s involvement in sexual misconduct with underage athletes. The SafeSport investigator sent documents and interviews from her investigations.
SafeSport is a federally mandated investigative body for regulated sports whose mission is to address the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes. Fritz’s access to the USA Climbing Team and SafeSport certified gyms has been suspended due to this investigation.
Fritz is accused of having sexual contact with an underage girl in Canada, Bothell, Mukilteo, and Redmond. Tolbert forwarded the case to the FBI for consideration of federal charges due to allegations of crossing state and country borders.
Tolbert worked with the FBI to share documents and interviews they conducted, including interviews with other athletes who came forward, parents of the athletes, and a manager at a climbing gym where Fritz and some of the athletes frequented.
Evidence from the investigations led to Redmond detectives arresting Fritz in Seattle on Wednesday, Feb. 2. He is being held on $500,000 bail at Snohomish County Jail.
