Haltom City dad fights off man from kidnapping 2-year-old son

It was a terrifying game of tug-of-war for a Haltom City father when he says a man tried to snatch his 2-year-old son right in front of his home.

The dad struggled with the would-be kidnapper until neighbors called 911.

The incident happened Tuesday on Janrue Court at Broadway and Beach Street. The father says he's terrified because the attacker was so bold.

14-year-old Elias Holguin spent Tuesday afternoon playing soccer in the street with the other kids on Janrue Court in Haltom City. Right before he went inside his home around 6:30 p.m., Holguin heard his next-door neighbor yelling for help. Little did he know that he was standing just feet away from an attempted kidnapping.

Hector, who asked that his face not be shown, speaks very little English. He says he was taking the recyclables to the curb with his son when a stranger who seemed to come out of nowhere grabbed the 2-year-old's arm.

“I don’t know why they tried to take my little boy,” he said. “What is it that they wanted to do?”

Hector says he had no idea who the man was. He immediately grabbed onto his son and struggled with the suspect while yelling for Holguin to call the police. Then, the suspect let go and ran off in between the two homes which back up to a creek.

Haltom City police say they searched the creek and surrounding area with a police k-9 but found nothing. Investigators say neighbors reported seeing an early 2000 model Dodge pickup driving slowly through the area earlier that day. Police don’t know if its related to the attempted kidnapping.

The seemingly random attack has shaken the neighborhood.

Hector says he grateful his son wasn’t hurt. He says his son is too young to be traumatized, but Hector says he is.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Haltom City Police Department.