LEHIGH ACRES, FL – A man from Florida is facing charges after allegedly attempting to kidnap a child from a local Walmart store in Lehigh Acres this past Friday. The accused, identified as Pablo Pintueles Hernandez, has been charged with the false imprisonment of a child under the age of 13, as reported by the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Hernandez is said to have seized a four-year-old boy, attempting to lead him away from his family. However, a quick-acting relative intervened, preventing the alleged kidnapping. The Sheriff’s Office reported that surveillance footage from the store confirmed the incident, showing an unidentified man approaching the child, who was shopping with his family, and forcibly directing him away before a family member stepped in.
Further investigation revealed that Hernandez grabbed the child’s wrist, pulled him, and said ‘let’s go,’ restraining the child’s movements and directing him to walk with him. The authorities arrived at Hernandez’s residence approximately an hour after the incident and promptly took him into custody.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno expressed his concern over the incident, describing it as “incredibly disturbing.” He reassured the residents of Lee County, stating, “I never want anyone in Lee County to feel unsafe, especially going on a simple shopping trip. My team will stop at NOTHING to ensure criminals like this face the consequences of their actions.”