Police arrested a 38-year-old man in the Lo Espejo commune after he allegedly attempted to kidnap a seven-year-old boy on Wednesday night.
The incident occurred in the José María Caro neighborhood while the child was playing soccer in the street with several friends.
According to the victim's mother, the man initially tried to lure the boy away using toys. The group of children became frightened and alerted the mother to the man's presence.
Witnesses said the man then grabbed the boy by the arm and attempted to force him to leave. The mother intervened to stop the man, leading to a physical struggle.
During the confrontation, the suspect bit the woman on her hand. The mother reported that the man continued to resist her attempts to free the child.
“When I approached him, he said, ‘I am not taking him,’ and he kept moving forward. I told him, ‘Let go of my son, you are taking him,’ and he wouldn't let go,” the mother told La Radio.
Police intervention
Following the struggle, the man fled to a nearby rental property where he attempted to hide. Carabineros arrived at the scene and apprehended the suspect shortly after the report was filed.
Lieutenant Francisco Cantarero, an officer with the Santiago Rinconada Prefecture, confirmed that the individual will be brought before the courts.
Authorities stated the 38-year-old man holds regular migratory status in Chile and has no prior criminal record. Neighbors reported seeing the man engaging in suspicious behavior in the area prior to the incident.
Prosecutors plan to formally charge the man with attempted child abduction in the coming hours.
