Neighbors intervened when a Florida woman picked up a 3-year-old boy from his backyard and attempted to leave with him — she later stated that her intentions were to assist the child, as revealed by police and newly released bodycam footage.
Pamela Monsalve, 39, has been charged with kidnapping after witnesses reported seeing her reach over a fence to take a young child while he was playing outside his home in Hallandale Beach on Nov. 25, as detailed in an arrest report from NBC 6.
As she reportedly started to walk away with the child in her arms, neighbors quickly surrounded her, questioning her actions, while one local took a photo and notified the child’s mother.
Surveillance footage obtained by Local 10 shows a pair of neighbors asking her to stop walking at one point.
Monsalve released the child, who hurried home just before the police took her into custody.
“Make sure you pay attention to your kids, your surroundings, make sure you know your neighbors and your neighbors know you,” Hallandale Beach Police Capt. Megan Jones told the station.
“This is an example of ‘know thy neighbor’ and those neighbors were able to help prevent this child from being permanently taken.”
Monsalve sought to explain her actions by stating she was attempting to care for the child, as revealed in bodycam footage acquired by NBC 6.
“He was outside, he was naked,” she said on video. “Everything was naked and I asked for the people around to call police and nobody would call police.”
According to Local 10, video evidence shows she also claimed he was on a playground.
Officials have indicated that there is no prior connection between the suspect and the family of the young victim.
Monsalve remains in custody without bond as of Monday night, according to local reports.
