CROWN HEIGHTS, Brooklyn (PIX11) -- A shocking video shows a masked man grabbing a young boy from his father’s arms in Brooklyn. The man was later arrested, and the child was unharmed.
The video, which will make any parent’s heart stop, shows the moment when a 6-year-old boy was nearly snatched from his father on a Brooklyn sidewalk.
"He’s very scared, traumatized," said the boy’s mother. "For the past two nights, he hasn’t been sleeping."
The boy’s mother spoke about the ordeal Saturday afternoon on Kingston Avenue.
"He went to school and told his friends he was almost kidnapped on Shabbat," she said.
The father held on tight as the suspect mumbled incoherently before the video showed the man retreating into a nearby building.
"I started to cry because it’s very scary," said the mother. "I can’t imagine if my husband didn’t defend himself… you go to the worst place."
Police arrested 28-year-old Stephan Stowe, who, according to sources, has an extensive arrest history dating back to 2013. Stowe has lived near the victim’s family for years.
"I try not to pass judgment because something could be subjective or misconstrued," said a neighbor.
Stowe’s close friends told PIX11 News, he suffers from mental illness and insisted he would never kidnap a child.
"I would understand if he picked the kid up and tried to [run away]," said one friend. "I get it… it looks a certain way on camera."
While friends expressed sympathy for the boy, they also emphasized that their friend needed help. "He was having a crisis," one said. "He’s been checked in and out of hospitals."
The boy’s mother added, "He should not be released and should get the help he needs."
English (US) ·