In a concerning incident captured on surveillance, a Miami-Dade neighborhood witnessed a 6-year-old child being lured away by a suspect identified as 56-year-old Jose Reynaldo Martinez Reyes.
Miami-Dade Police reported that the troubling event took place on a Saturday afternoon near the 1300 block of Northwest 79th Street. The incident unfolded when 6-year-old Jake Rivera, who was playing soccer with his older brother in their front yard, was approached by Martinez Reyes.
The suspect reportedly began interacting with the young boy by offering to play soccer and then enticed him by promising to buy him a toy. This approach successfully lured Jake away from his home. According to police, the suspect and the child left the vicinity on foot, leading to a worrying situation for the family.
Upon noticing his brother’s absence, the older sibling and an adult family friend initiated a desperate search. ‘I was sleeping and my cousin woke me up and said my little cousin was abducted by a man,’ recalled Alfredo Velasquez, the boy’s cousin.
Fortunately, their search ended positively when they found Jake more than a mile away on 24th Avenue. Velasquez described the moment when Jake’s older brother rushed in, physically intervening to retrieve his brother. This swift action ensured the safe return of the child.
Martinez Reyes now faces serious charges, including kidnapping and interference with custody, as recorded in Miami-Dade jail records. The community remains on edge, but grateful for the quick resolution of this alarming incident.
The swift actions of the family and the availability of surveillance footage were crucial in resolving this potentially tragic situation. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the vigilance needed to ensure the safety of children in community spaces.
Source: Nbcmiami
