Salem police on Sunday arrested a man for allegedly trying to kidnap a 3-year-old at a park in front of the child’s father.
The father of the child was at the park with his two children, the 3-year-old and a 10-year-old, when Lino Lopez Palafox, 38, tried to take the children’s bike, according to the Salem Police Department.
When the father refused, officers said, Lopez Palafox picked up the 3-year-old and tried to leave with him. The father then got the child back and called the police, officers said.
The father did not know Lopez Palafox beforehand, police said.
Salem police said officers responded to the call around 5:45 p.m. Sunday and arrested Lopez Palafox nearby. He’s being held at the Marion County jail on a felony kidnapping charge.
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