A terrifying scene unfolded at an Oregon Walmart just days before Christmas when a father was forced to fight off a stranger who allegedly tried to snatch his child straight out of a stroller, authorities said.
The attempted kidnapping happened shortly before 8 p.m. on Dec. 21 at a Walmart in Cornelius, about 25 miles west of Portland, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies say a man approached the family inside the store and attempted to grab the child from the stroller. The child’s father immediately intervened, stopping the suspect and wrestling with him inside the store.
During the struggle, the suspect allegedly pulled out a knife. Authorities say he dropped the weapon before fleeing the scene and driving away in a white Jeep. The father suffered minor injuries during the confrontation.
Witnesses quickly sprang into action, writing down the vehicle’s license plate. Deputies located the Jeep a short distance away and identified its owner as 37-year-old Denis Villalobos, who was later taken into custody.
A grand jury has since indicted Villalobos on multiple charges, including attempted kidnapping, assault, unlawful use of a weapon, and menacing. Investigators say store surveillance footage captured the encounter as well as the moments leading up to it.
“He looks like he’s staring at the child as the family walks by. And they don’t even know who he is,” Washington County Sheriff’s Cpl. David Huey told local CBS affiliate KOIN. “It’s almost as if the suspect was stalking them.”
The child’s mother later spoke about the incident, calling it deeply unsettling.
“It’s kind of scary,” she said. “Especially the fact that he lives around this neighborhood. It’s actually nice to live in a small community where we have the police department around the area doing their job and very close by. So we’re very thankful for that.”
Villalobos remains behind bars at the Washington County Jail and is scheduled to appear before a judge on Monday.
These demons need to be taught a lesson
Are they charging him with being an illegal alien?
Is lobos an illegal?????