An incident in a Florida Walmart has parents concerned for their children's safety while shopping in the neighborhood store. A man reportedly tried to abduct a child in a Lee County Walmart on December 29. Pablo Pintueles Hernandez, 64, allegedly tried to grab a 4-year-old boy in Lehigh Acres, but a family member quickly pulled him back.
Surveillance video from the store captured the terrifying moment and has fellow shoppers on high alert. Police arrested Pintueles Hernandez and charged him with false imprisonment.
More from CafeMom: Police Find Abducted 11-Year-Old Girl in Pennsylvania Thanks to Her iPad
Police responded to a call about a potential kidnapping.
According to a Facebook post from the Lee County Sheriff's Office, deputies arrived at the scene after a report of a potential kidnapping. The unidentified boy's family said a man allegedly tried to grab the boy's wrist and take him with him.
"Deputies immediately reviewed the surveillance footage and confirmed an unknown man walked up to the child shopping with his family, grabbed his wrist, and forced him to go in his direction before a family member intervened and pulled the child back," the release reads.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed a frightening scene.
The sheriff's department worked diligently to identify the suspect. According to WJAC-TV, deputies had him in custody in less than an hour.
"Together, analysts and deputies utilized advanced technology to quickly identify and locate Pintueles Hernandez. Within an hour of the incident, deputies responded to the residence of Pintueles Hernandez, where his identity was confirmed," the sheriff's department's release noted.
Deputies went to Pintueles Hernandez's home and determined he did attempt to take the child from his family and allegedly said, "Let's go," as he grabbed the boy's wrist.
Deputies arrested Pintueles Hernandez at his home.
He was taken into custody and charged with false imprisonment of a child under 13 years old. Sheriff Carmine Marceno understood why parents were concerned,
"What this criminal did is incredibly disturbing," Marceno shared in a statement via WJAC-TV. "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."
The incident disturbed shoppers.
Ariana Ferguson, who lives near the store with her daughter, Skylar, told WJAC-TV the incident concerned her. "Safety is very important to me, and I'm very overprotective about my daughter; I would definitely have to think about that. This is very surprising to me," she said.
She said she will keep a closer watch on her daughter in the store. "I always try to make sure that she is right next to me," Ferguson added.
More from CafeMom: Manhunt on for 16-Year-Old Accused of Abducting 1-Year-Old She Was Watching
Parents admitted they have a hard time trusting strangers.
The comment section on WJAC-TV's post was filled with concerned people.
One person wrote, "Why I hold my granddaughters hand every where we go….."
Another person commented, "Always have your mace or pepper spray and don't be afraid to use it."
One follower warned this is the way of the world today. "This is nothing new it happens all the time parents and guardians always keep an eye on your children… This is a wicked world we all live in beware of your surroundings… Out of the wicked comes wickedness," the person wrote.
