Sacramento church shaken by kidnapping attempt
SACRAMENTO -- Sacramento police say a man tried to kidnap two children right in front of their parents, as they picnicked outside their church Saturday, reports CBS Sacramento.
The station says that some churchgoers and witnesses are still shaken over what happened, especially after finding out that 34-year-old suspect Paul Nelson also attends the church.
"He took two kids and tried to run," said churchgoer Sonya Harris.
Witnesses say Nelson approached a large group of parents and kids who were eating at some picnic tables after choir rehearsal around lunchtime Saturday.
"He had on some really nice clothes, kind of like church clothes, and he came up and said 'hi' to them and started to interact with the children," Harris told the station.
He then allegedly grabbed two children, ages two and five, and took off running through the parking lot, Harris said.
Several parents chased Harris and pried the children free before wrestling Nelson to the ground, Harris said.
The church deacon, George Harris, said he knows Nelson, and was surprised by the alleged kidnapping attempt.
"He might have been under an influence or something like that, but he's not a violent guy. He's not a child molester, he's not a kidnapper. He's none of those," Deacon Harris told CBS Sacramento.
But parents like Sonya Harris are keeping a much closer eye on their surroundings and kids.
"It just makes me more aware," Sonya Harris said. "I think sometimes when we are in a safe environment, because church is a safe environment, we don't see the criminal in people. We try to see the best in people. So just feeling too comfortable at times can really put you in danger."
Nelson is charged with kidnapping, resisting arrest and having outstanding warrants. He's being held on a $2 million bail and is due in court on Tuesday.