Florida man tries to kidnap child in front of mother in hotel room
A man in Florida is arrested after allegedly attempting to kidnap a child from a Tampa Bay hotel room
A disturbing incident in a Tampa Bay hotel room resulted in the arrest of a man who was fought off by a mother after an attempted kidnapping.
READ MORE: Florida woman who lied that Black men kidnapped son admits to drowning him, Miami cops say
ABC News reports that 24-year-old Gabriel Martin entered the hotel room where a mother and her child were staying and tried to take the minor as the parent called for help.
According to the Sheriffs’ office, the suspect walked into the hotel room and picked the child up, right in front of the mother. The panicked woman managed to wrest her child from the stranger and called the authorities.
An official police statement notes the suspect then fled the scene of the attempted crime on foot. When they arrived they found him hiding in the bushes at a nearby business park where he was immediately placed under arrest, according to ABC News.
READ MORE:Black man allegedly kidnapped woman and forced her to watch ‘Roots’
“Thankfully, the mother and child were not hurt during the course of this incident,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister to ABC News.
He continues, “As a parent myself, I can’t imagine the fear this mother was in when the suspect tried to take her child away from her. He will be charged to the fullest extent for his crimes.”
The police department confirms to ABC News that Martin faces multiple charges stemming from the attempted kidnapping including kidnapping, burglary of an occupied dwelling with battery, and violation of probation.
According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, he was on probation for possession of MDMA and armed burglary charges out of Manatee County, Florida. Martin’s trial date has yet to be set.
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