MEDINA, Ohio (WJW) — Police are looking for a suspect after a father said his child was nearly abducted while playing at an Ohio park.
The incident occurred Monday afternoon near a playground at an apartment complex in Medina, Ohio.
The father of the child called 911 after his 10-year-old son told him about the attempted abduction.
“My kids were playing at the park and a man grabbed one of my kids and tried to run off,” he told police. “They said he picked him up, ran about 100 feet, dropped him when all of the other kids chased him and then ran off.”
According to police, nobody saw where the man went after he ran, and nobody knew his identity.
“It was broad daylight in an apartment complex. I can’t imagine someone being so sick and desperate they’d grab a kid in the middle of the day, so hopefully they get him before he does it again,” the father told NewsNation affiliate WJW.
He said his son is “a little scraped up from being thrown down, but he’s fine. I can’t imagine if he hadn’t thought to scream, bite, fight back. However, he could. I hope parents tell their kids, ‘scream, fight, bite, do something to get free.'”
Officers say the suspect was described as:
- White male, approximately 30 years old
- Around 6 feet tall, skinny build
- Blonde hair, short scruffy blonde beard
- Wearing brown skinny pants, white T-shirt with a black collar, black-and-white shoes
Authorities have asked the public, if they saw anything unusual, have doorbell or security footage from the area or know someone who matches this description to contact the police at (330) 725-7777.
“Even the smallest detail could help us identify this individual and keep our community safe,” police said. “Let’s work together to make sure Medina stays the kind of place where we look out for each other, especially our kids.”