May 18--A babysitter fought off a man who tried to kidnap a 4-month-old baby girl from a stroller in a San Bernardino neighborhood on Tuesday, police said.
Edgar Valdez, 35, was arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnapping and child endangerment, said Lt. Rich Lawhead, spokesman for the San Bernardino Police Department.
The kidnapping attempt occurred about 9:37 a.m. in the 1400 block of North D Street, according to police.
Carmen Perez had just removed the baby from a vehicle and placed her in the stroller near a Catholic Charities building when she saw Valdez quickly approaching her, police said.
Perez started screaming and ran toward the business while pushing the stroller. But Valdez grabbed the stroller, blocking her from entering the building, police said.
"I thought he was going to take it or do something to us," Perez told KCBS-TV.
Perez was "determined to protect the child and refused to let go of the stroller despite the attack," police said.
Valdez and Perez were involved in short struggle, according to police. He then pushed her to the ground as she maintained a tight grip on the stroller, police said.
After seeing Perez's refusal to give up the stroller, Valdez fled to the back of the business and changed clothes in attempt to disguise his identity, police said.
But a group of bystanders followed Valdez and detained him until police arrived, according to officials.
Perez and the baby girl were taken to an area hospital where they were treated for minor cuts and bruises.
on Twitter.
