A registered sex offender is back in jail after allegedly attempting to kidnap two small children from a Southern California park on Monday. The suspect was thwarted by family members of the victim who chased the man down and wrestled the child away from him, the Riverside County Sheriff Department said in a release.
Marcus Dewitt, 29, was arrested by Lake Elsinore police after allegedly trying to grab a 3-year-old by the arm while the child was partially inside a park play apparatus at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park. Police said when Dewitt was unsuccessful in taking the 3-year-old child, he tried grabbing a nearby 4-year-old and flee the area with that child.
But the child's parents spotted Dewitt and chased after him, wrestling the boy away from him. That's when Dewitt tried to flee the park on foot, but a family member of one of the victims managed to subdue him until authorities arrived.
Other witnesses and family members joined in holding Dewitt down until he was safely taken into custody.
Authorities said the children were not hurt during the incident and are safe at home with their families.
Dewitt was booked on kidnapping charges. He's being held on $1 million bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.
Photo: Lake Elsinore Sheriff's Station