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Man tries to kidnap child in front of dad, police say

The suspect grabbed a 6-year-old boy but ran away when the child's father fought him off Tuesday afternoon.

PORTLAND, Ore. — Police are trying to identify a man suspected of trying to kidnap a 6-year-old boy Tuesday afternoon in downtown's Pearl District. The man may also have been involved in a separate suspicious incident that same day. 

Around 3:20 p.m., officers got a call about a man trying to grab the child, who had been walking with his father in the area of The Fields Park off Northwest 11th Avenue and Northwest Overton Street. 

Police said the boy's father fought off the suspect. 

"He was watching and he may have saved his son from some unknown fate," police spokesman Sgt. Kevin Allen said.

Officers were unable to locate the suspect after he ran away.

Earlier that day, mother reported that a man was following her and her son around the neighborhood. She posted a photo of the man on the neighborhood app Nextdoor. 

Investigators believe the same man was involved in both incidents. 

The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) released surveillance images of the suspect in the Pearl District on Dec. 13. He was seen with a black bicycle with a black and white seat and cargo rack.

Credit: Portland Police Bureau
Police shared an image of a man suspected of trying to kidnap a boy in the Pearl District on Dec. 15.
Credit: Portland Police Bureau
Police shared an image of a man suspected of trying to kidnap a boy in the Pearl District on Dec. 15.

The suspect is described as a Hispanic male, aged 20 to 30, about 5-foot-1 to 5-foot-3, heavyset with dark hair. Police said he was wearing a black hoodie, "white wash jeans," black and white shoes and a grey beanie with a ball on top. 

The bureau is looking to speak with anyone with information pertaining to this case. 

"We do feel an urgency here," Sgt. Allen said.

Credit: Portland Police Bureau
Police shared an image of a man suspected of trying to kidnap a boy in the Pearl District on Dec. 15.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Det. Michael Schmerber at 503-823-0991 in reference to PPB case 21-348356

Tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Oregon, which offers cash rewards of up to $2,500 cash for information that leads to an arrest. You may remain anonymous.

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