A father in Florida was fortunately able to save his 4-year-old son from an attempted kidnapper, acting quickly to stop the kidnapping and save the boy when the incident occurred in a Miami Beach-are CVS. The incident, which occurred at about noon on Thursday, February 8th, was captured on the pharmacy’s CCTV system.

In the shocking video of the incident that emerged, the suspect, later identified as Nicolas Sternaman, 26, can be seen strolling into the store. He then turns suddenly while simultaneously bending down, and snatches the young boy by the neck, swiping him off the ground and turning toward the CVS door to make off with the boy.

Fortunately, the boy’s father was primed for action and reacted with all due haste. Nearly as soon as Sternaman snatched the boy and headed for the exit, the father sprung onto him and managed to fight Sternaman off of his son. Meanwhile, the four-year-old boy fell to the ground, where he was snatched up by his mother and rushed off to safety.

Meanwhile, the father remained committed to fighting off his son’s attempted kidnapper, wrestling with him and even managing to rip off his jacket. Sternaman, however, was able to slip out of his grip and flee through the door. The father and an outraged witness chased him out the door and down the nearby Collins Avenue, with police officer soon joining the chase. Sternaman was eventually caught and arrested about three blocks away from the CVS.

Sternaman, who apparently refused to explain to law enforcement officers why he attempted to abduct the young boy, now faces two felony charges, aggravated child abuse and kidnapping a child. This was not his first run in with the law. A South Beach resident, Sternaman had been arrested on January 3, 2024, for petit theft. He was, however, released on just a $150 bond, and so was out of jail and free to attempt the kidnapping.

Speaking to local media after the horrifying incident, the boy’s father encouraged parents to keep their heads on a swivel when out in public with their children, as any moment could lead to some stomach-churning attack like this one. He said, “Be aware of your child every second because in one second they can be taken away.”

Similarly, a witness commented on the suddenness of the incident, saying it came out of nowhere and that what was happening was not immediately obvious. He said, speaking to CBS News, “I was just standing at the register and paying for my items and I look … and there was a guy just fighting another guy. And I thought it was someone trying to take the lady’s purse.” Continuing, he emphasized how the random attack shocked witnesses with its suddenness, saying, “Everyone was just shocked because it was so quick and it was so fast. The guy just came out of nowhere.”/source: theamericantribune

Watch the CCTV footage of the kidnapping attempt and father’s saving of his son here: