Shocking surveillance footage shows a father fighting off a man who appeared to be attempting to abduct his four-year-old son.
The chilling incident unfolded in broad daylight, as captured by security footage. According to Local 10, the child's mother had walked ahead of her husband and son as they navigated the aisles of the pharmacy.
Moments later, with the mother outside and the father trailing closely behind their son, a stranger made a bold move.
In the footage, the suspect is seen seizing the young boy by the neck just as he nears the exit doors.
Reacting swiftly, the father abandoned whatever he was holding and sprang into action, forcefully removing the assailant and rescuing his son. The mother swiftly swooped in to comfort the frightened child.
Watch the shocking footage below:A scuffle ensued between the father and the alleged kidnapper, with the father gaining the upper hand before the perpetrator fled the scene.
Following swift police intervention, 26-year-old Nicolas Sternaman was apprehended. Remarkably, Sternaman left behind his jacket, which was recovered at the scene, and witnesses reported seeing him discard his shirt as he fled.
According to law enforcement officials, Sternaman faces serious charges, including aggravated child abuse and battery, in connection with the incident. Records show that Sternaman had been previously arrested for petty theft earlier in the year.
In another shocking story of a near-abduction, a vigilant bystander played a crucial role in saving a kidnapped 13-year-old girl after she discreetly signaled for help.
Steven Robert Sablan, 62, pleaded guilty to a federal kidnapping charge after abducting and subjecting the teenager to sexual assault during a harrowing journey from San Antonio to Southern California. This plea agreement, confirmed by the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, sheds light on the traumatic events that unfolded in July 2023.
Sablan, a resident of the Dallas-Fort Worth area with no legal ties to the victim, forcibly seized the girl at gunpoint near a bus stop in San Antonio. Threatening her safety, he coerced her into his car, where he proceeded to assault her while driving her towards Long Beach, California.
Despite the victim's pleas and disclosures about her age and connections, Sablan callously continued the assault throughout the 1,300-mile journey, making stops for further abuse along the way, per CNN.
On July 9, 2023, while Sablan paused at a Long Beach laundromat, the brave teenager seized an opportunity to signal for help. Scribbling a desperate note reading "Help me!" she displayed it in the car window.
A vigilant passerby, noticing the distress signal, promptly alerted authorities by dialing 911, leading to a swift response from Long Beach police.
Upon discovery, Long Beach police found the traumatized teenager inside the vehicle, visibly distressed but safe from harm.
Following Sablan's arrest, police recovered incriminating evidence including a plastic BB handgun, handcuffs, and a knife.
As part of the plea agreement, Sablan faces a minimum of 20 years in prison, with the possibility of life imprisonment.