6-year-old Miami woman fights off would-be kidnapper: “I bit him”

A person accused of making an attempt to abduct a six-year-old woman from a Miami condominium complicated has been arrested. The woman says she fought him off, partly, by biting him.

In response to police, she was enjoying along with her siblings within the courtyard of the complicated on Thursday. As the opposite children went inside, the woman seen a more moderen mannequin SUV parked close to her condominium as she sat on the rear stairway.

The woman informed CBS Miami, “There was a kidnapper strolling to the again the place I used to be sitting. He pulled me. He picked me up. He began operating with me.”

She mentioned she informed police she was instantly grabbed by the arm by a person, who they later recognized as 32-year-old Leonardo Venegas, and pulled her towards the rear of the steps.

“She’s actually courageous,” mentioned the woman’s mom, Teshia McGill. “She fought him off.”

“Then I bit him,” mentioned the woman. “Then he slapped me and threw me on the ground.”

“(We’re) grateful that that six-year-old little woman had a terrific reminiscence,” Miami police officer Kiara Delva remarked to CBS Miami. “She was in a position to give a terrific description of the suspect concerned, which helped our tactical theft detectives to find the car. Very courageous – she fought for her security.”

Venegas reportedly ran towards the entrance of the condominium complicated after the alleged assault. The woman escaped, then ran inside and informed her mom’s partner. They known as police. 

In reviewing surveillance video, investigators noticed a white Vary Rover pull into the complicated and park within the space that the woman described.

Investigators mentioned quickly after, the motive force is seen strolling to the staircase the place the woman was. Moments later, they mentioned, he might be seen operating again to the car and driving off.

Utilizing extra surveillance video, investigators noticed it driving away. At one level, it handed a license plate reader and investigators wrere in a position to get hold of its tag, which got here again to Venegas.

A tactical theft unit noticed the car on July 8 and Venegas was taken into custody on Saturday, police mentioned.

Delva mentioned should you or a cherished one are in a state of affairs just like the one the woman confronted, “Run away so far as you possibly can and even scream. For those who really feel like your life is at risk and instantly notify a mother or father, don’t have interaction in any form of dialog.”

The woman agreed, suggesting potential victims “scream. And get away. Or attempt to do one thing. Or something to attempt to get away from him.”

“Don’t discuss to strangers,” mentioned McGill. “And if you must defend your self, defend your self.”

He was being detained on fees of kidnapping and baby abuse, in addition to an immigration maintain, jail data confirmed.