Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers arrested David Rosales Martinez, 32, (R) for trying to kidnap an eight-year-old girl in an east Charlotte apartment complex. Police say Martinez tried to pull an eight-year-old girl off her swing and grab her throat in the apartment complex's playground around 8 pm on Thursday. The girl's 10-year-old sister saw the man attempting to take her sister and both girls began screaming. The screaming drew attention to the scene and Martinez left. Police said several people who witnessed the attempted abduction recognized Martinez and said he lived on the opposite end of the apartment complex. This allowed police to find him and arrest him. Police said the girls did the right thing by screaming to scare off their attacker. They also want to remind parents that children should not be left unsupervised even for a moment, and if they are playing with other children they should be watched by an adult.
Jail records show Martinez was arrested at least twice before- but not for any similar incidents.Police said they're checking to see if Martinez fits the description of suspects in any similar attacks in the area or in other parts of the city. Martinez is facing charges of kidnapping and assault on a child younger than 12 years old. Martinez is in the Mecklenburg County Jail with a bond set at $13,000. Source: WCNC