For those of you that bring your kids w/ you, like I do sometimes, be careful...

[tb]

(This is at 16th street and the Oceanfront, on the Boardwalk)

Man tries to abduct 4-year-old right out of his mother's arms

Posted: June 5, 2008 02:20 PM EST

Updated: June 5, 2008 05:57 PM EST


Steve Vernon Fleming



VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY.com) -- Police in Virginia Beach are investigating an apparent bold and blatant attempt to abduct a four-year-old child right out of his mother's arms.

According to investigators, on Wednesday night just before 9:00 p.m., a mother and her 4-year-old son were standing in the line at the Dairy Queen in the 1600 block of Atlantic Ave.

Police tell WAVY.com man came up to them, grabbed the 4-year-old and put him under his arm. The mother screamed and grabbed her son and a sort of tug of war ensued between the man and the mother.

The boy's mother succeeded in regaining control and got her son back over to her family, while calling the police.

The man briefly went away, but regrouped and came back to where the mother and her son were, and attempted to get between the mother and her son again.

"The suspect came over a second time to try to coax the child to come over to him. Police were quickly responding and at that time the suspect tried to leave and witnesses pointed out the suspect and he was taken into custody," said Police spokesperson Margie Long.

Meanwhile as other bystanders started getting involved, the police arrived and the man took off running. He got only a short distance before he was caught and taken into custody by police.

Police identified the man in custody as 54-year-old Steve Vernon Fleming. His home address is unknown and he's unemployed.

Fleming has been charged with attempted abduction.

Police say there is no connection between the suspect and child.

 

[EDDE]

Re: For those of you that bring your kids w/ you, like I do sometimes, be carefu

and he is still breathing O2 ??

 

[guzz1]

Re: For those of you that bring your kids w/ you, like I do sometimes, be carefu

IM sorry But if I were there he'd be laid out at the county coroner office , You don't mess with kids. Guzz1

 

[JOe L]

Glad all went well. Also, Mom's get very strong when her child's in danger.
Ditto on being there, a good beat down was in order, of course just to detain.

 

[JT in Virginia]

It’s amazing that he tried to do that. First, any mother is going to fight him to protect her child. Second, anybody witnessing this would certainly get involved, especially one of us. Third, Virginia Beach has policemen everywhere. They seem to be on every street corner. They’re on bikes, motorcycles, horseback, and on the beach they have 4-wheelers. I think Virginia Beach is relatively safe, but you need to be aware of who’s around you because there are nuts like this out there.

 

[tb]

Virginia Beach is pretty safe, but it goes to show you how blatant some of these "nutballs" can be. 2 months ago in the neighborhood next to ours, a guy in a van tried to get a kid at the bus stop to get into his van. You have to watch your kids every second, it's not the same as it used to be.
Virginia Beach's worst problems are from 9th-27th on Pacific Avenue during the late, late hours of night. It is not the image city leaders want you to know about.