A 38-year-old man was arrested by the Salem Police Department on Sunday, June 28, after allegedly attempting to kidnap a 3-year-old child. According to police reports, Lino Lopez-Palafox tried to take the child's bike and then picked up the toddler in an attempt to leave with him.
The incident occurred around 5:42 p.m. at an apartment complex on Rose Garden Street Northeast in Salem, Oregon. The father of the victim was present during the attempted kidnapping and was able to intervene, taking his son from Lopez-Palafox.
Lopez-Palafox was arrested for attempted kidnapping in the first degree and is being held at Marion County Jail. Police say they do not know if he had any prior interactions with the family or what motivated him to commit the crime.
The investigation into the incident is ongoing.