Man Snatches Girl From Store, Gets Arrested

The mother chased after the man and quickly brought her daughter back inside the store

A man faces kidnapping charges after being caught on surveillance video snatching a 4-year-old girl from a Victorville cellphone store.

The alleged attempted abduction took place as the girl was with her mother at Macias Cellular & Computers at 15303 7th St. last Friday, according to the Victorville Police Department. Video shows the girl standing next to candy machines near the front entrance when someone reaches in with one arm through the open door and yanks the girl out.

The mother, who was holding her other child, a baby, and another customer chase after the would-be abductor.

It all happened so quickly, the store owner thought it was a domestic dispute.

"I heard screaming," said the store's owner. "I thought they were arguing with each other at first. When I came from behind the counter I asked what was going on."

That's when she and her husband found out that it was a child abduction attempt. The alleged abductor didn't get far with the little girl.

She said she believes the child instinctively fell to the ground, causing the suspect to lose his grip. The mother quickly brought her daughter back inside the store.

"The mom was in here she was very hysterical," the store owner said. "Her daughter was very traumatized, just clinging on to her, wouldn't let go. Both babies were crying."

Her husband and a customer then started chasing the suspect down Union Street. Neighbors heard the commotion and helped them stop the suspect.

"He was smiling like it was some kind of joke or something," said the store owner's husband.

San Bernardino County sheriff's deputies arrived and arrested 24-year-old Terry Lynn Ransom, a Hesperia resident who investigators say may have been high on drugs.

"Even though he got caught it just lets me know how dangerous this world can really be," the store owner said.

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