The Great Smoky Mountain Journal

Source: 

Tuesday, January 01, 2019 02:45 PM

California Dad Called A Hero After Knocking Out Kidnapper Trying To Kidnap His Three-Year Old Daughter

Freddie Cantrell lives across the street from Regional Park in Auburn, California, where his two girls were playing with their mother and stepfather Sunday evening.

He said park is a place they used to love, but now is part of their biggest nightmare.

“I got a phone call from the mother saying, ‘Hey you got to get down here quick. Somebody tried to kidnap Aubrey,'” Cantrell told CBS Sacramento.

The incident unfolded in front of their 6-year-old daughter, Natalie.

“The guy walked up and started dragging Aubrey and running with her and skipping with her,” Natalie said.

The 3-year-old's mom and stepfather ran after the suspect, and Cantrell ran towards them from the opposite side of the park.

“He tried to swing at me with handcuffs wrapped around his fingers and try to use them as brass knuckles, and that’s when I just took action and try to knock him out,” Cantrell remembered.

Placer County authorities quickly arrived to the scene following the citizen's arrest and took 26-year-old Yonel Hernandez-Velasco into custody for attempted kidnapping and assault with a deadly weapon.

Many neighbors told CBS 13 they're grateful the man is out of their neighborhood.

“If I saw that I would go after the person too because someone’s kid you know,” said a man who lives nearby and walks his two dogs.