Man Caught Trying To Kidnap Child, 4, From LA County Playground: Police

CULVER CITY, CA — A 57-year-old man remains behind bars Tuesday after police say he attempted to kidnap a child from a Culver City playground last week.

The incident occurred before 1 p.m. March 30 at Fox Hills Park, when the man approached a 4-year-old child at the playground and "attempted to lure the child away from their parent by telling the child to come with him," the Culver City Police Department said in a release.

The parent, along with another bystander, both saw the man speaking with the child and attempted to intervene, police said.

"When the parent and community member approached, the suspect walked away from the playground and left the area," police said.

Officers responded and canvassed the park and surrounding area, looking for a man described as wearing a red hoodie, police said.

Officers found a man matching the suspect's description inside a vehicle in a parking structure of a nearby shopping center, police said. Westfield Culver City is among the shopping centers nearby.

The man, identified as Marlo Jeffrey Hempstead, 57, was arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnapping. Charges have been filed by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, according to police.

Hempstead remained held on $75,000 bail as of Tuesday, according to jail records obtained by Patch.

He's set to appear in court on April 16.

"This incident highlights the importance of community awareness, quick action, and rapid police response. While this appears to be an isolated incident and there have been no other similar reports, parents and caregivers are encouraged to remain vigilant in public spaces and report suspicious activity immediately," police said.