The Culver City Police Department announced on Tuesday, April 6, that a man is in police custody, suspected of trying to lure a child, 4, away from their parent at Fox Hills Park.
According to a KTLA report, the incident occured on March 30 at approximately 12:53 p.m. at Fox Hills Park on Green Valley Circle, Culver City.
“Officers responding to a reported kidnapping attempt were told that a man wearing a red hoodie approached the child at the playground and told the minor to come with him, according to the Culver City Police Department,” the report reads. “The child’s parent and another community member witnessed the interaction and moved to intervene.”
“When the parent and community member approached, the suspect walked away from the playground and left the area,” police said. “At no time was the child physically taken or harmed.”
KTLA said that a search of the park “did not immediately lead to the suspect. Officers later located a person matching the description inside a vehicle parked in the structure of a nearby shopping center. The driver was identified as Marlo Jeffrey Hempstead, who was detained and arrested. Charges of attempted kidnapping have been filed against Hempstead with the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.”