A 57-year-old man suspected of an attempted kidnapping at Fox Hills Park in Culver City has been taken into custody, police announced Tuesday.
Mario Jeffrey Hempstead allegedly approached a 4-year-old child at 5809 Green Valley Circle at approximately 12:50 p.m. on March 30 and attempted to lure the child away from the youngster’s parents, according to the Culver City Police Department.
Police said the parents immediately noticed the man interacting with their child and quickly approached the 4-year-old, with a community member also recognizing the encounter and approaching to assist.
“When the parent and community member approached, the suspect walked away from the playground and left the area,” the police department said in a statement.
Detectives described the suspect as a man wearing a red hoodie and last seen near the southwest area of the park. Responding officers began immediately searching the park and the surrounding areas until they found a man who matched the suspect’s description inside a vehicle in the parking structure of a shopping center.
Hempstead was booked on suspicion of attempted kidnapping and was held on $75,000 bail at the Los Angeles County Sheriff Men’s Central Jail. His next scheduled court date is April 16.
No child was physically harmed during the attempted kidnapping incident, authorities said.
“This incident highlights the importance of community awareness, quick action, and rapid police responses. While this appears to be an isolated incident and there have been no other similar reports, parents and caregivers are encouraged to remain vigilant in public spaces and report suspicious activity immediately,” police said.
Anyone with information regarding the case was urged to contact the Culver City Police Department at 310-253-6202. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or visit lacrimestoppers.org.