Portland Police Say Dad Fights Off Would-Be Kidnapper, Man Sought

PORTLAND, OR — While you can't get a great look at the man in the picture, Portland Police are urging you to take a good look. They say that he is responsible for an attempted kidnapping of a child and another "concerning incident" involving a baby on Tuesday.

The incidents happened just blocks apart and about 45 minutes apart.

Police say they first got involved when they were called to The Fields Park at 10th and Northwest Overton around 3:20 on Tuesday afternoon.

A dad and his 6-year-old boy were walking along when a man walked up and tried to kidnap the child. the dad fought off the man who fled.

The dad and his son were unhurt. The dad told police that the man appeared to be between 5'1" and 5'3" tall, heavyset with dark hair, and wearing a black hoodie, white-wash jeans, a grey hoodie, and black and white shoes.

As police publicized the incident, a woman came forward saying that 45 minutes before the attack, she had been pushing her baby in a stroller on Northrup between Northwest 9th and 10th Avenues when the same man approached her.

The mom said that he had approached her, following her, even crossing the street with her as she tried to get away from him.

She confronted him, took his picture. Eventually, he walked away.

Police ask that nyone with video or any other information about this case, contact Detective Michael Schmerber at Michael.Schmerber@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-0991.