Father injured while stopping armed suspect from kidnapping son at Walmart, police say

CORNELIUS, Ore. (KPTV/Gray News) - A man is facing several charges after an attempted kidnapping at a store last Sunday, according deputies in Oregon.

Just before 8 p.m. on Dec. 21, Washington County authorities responded to the Walmart on North Adair Street for reports of an attempted kidnapping.

The 911 caller said a man armed with a knife tried to take his child while inside the store.

The sheriff’s office said the father was able to stop the man from taking the child out of the stroller, but was hurt during the confrontation. The severity of his injuries was not provided.

During the struggle, the suspect reportedly pulled out a knife, but dropped it.

The suspect then ran from the store and left in a Jeep, but witnesses were able to provide authorities with the license plate number.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said the suspect was identified as the Jeep’s registered owner, 37-year-old Denis Villalobos, of Cornelius.

Villalobos was found a short distance from the Walmart by a Forest Grove police officer and arrested. He was booked into the Washington County Jail.

On Monday, a Washington County grand jury indicted Villalobos on attempted kidnapping, assault, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing.

Records show Villalobos had two other arrests for harassment and trespassing weeks before the attempted kidnapping.

Cornelius police asked anyone who witnessed the attempted kidnapping to contact detectives at 503-629-0111.