A Castroville man is facing kidnapping charges after he allegedly grabbed a 10-year-old girl who was walking home Friday.
Salvador Hernandez-Saldivar, 61, was charged with kidnapping, assault with intent to commit a felony, child endangerment and annoying or molesting a minor under 18, Monterey County Sheriff’s Commander Scott Davis reported.
He was booked into Monterey County Jail on $200,000 bail, but was not listed as being in custody Sunday, jail records showed.
Hernandez-Saldivar was a neighbor, Davis said.
According to Davis, Hernandez-Saldivar grabbed the girl’s wrist as she walked home from a park, offered her a bicycle and attempted to take her.
She pulled away and ran home to tell her family, who located Hernandez-Saldivar and held him down until deputies arrived around 8pm.
“Protecting our most vulnerable remains a top priority of our office,” said Monterey County Sheriff Tina Nieto. “As witnessed by our community members’ quick actions, they too showed their commitment to holding those looking to do harm accountable. There are not enough thank yous in the world for those who stepped in to help save this child.”
The child was uninjured.
