An incident of high tension unfolded at a Walmart parking lot in Orlando, where a woman faced an armed robbery and an attempted kidnapping. The Orlando Police Department has taken a man into custody in connection to the crime which took place on Monday afternoon. The suspect, identified as Juan Perez, 54, is said to have menaced the woman with a knife to steal her purse and then tried to force her into the trunk of her vehicle, as reported by WFTV.
Authorities were alerted to the assault around 4:30 p.m. near the Walmart situated at South Goldenrod Road and Market Place Drive. Video surveillance from the location shows Perez pacing in the parking lot before the confrontation. Fortunately, a bystander stepped in, thwarting Perez's attempt to kidnap the woman.
After identification on Tuesday, Perez now faces several charges, including attempted kidnapping, armed robbery with a deadly weapon, and battery, per the Orlando Police Department’s news release. The gravity of the situation is accentuated by the fact that, as FOX 35 Orlando reports, Perez was already on federal probation for a prior kidnapping offense, details of which remain undisclosed at this time.
Retired Orange County sheriff’s deputy Jamie Copenhaver imparted some safety advice in response to the terrifying ordeal. "Once you start to unload those groceries and goods into the trunk of a car, you have a blind spot. The only thing you're looking at is that trunk, and you're concentrating on hurrying up, and getting it loaded up, and getting home. We're all in a hurry, but take a moment and pause… to look at who may be standing near you. Have an exit plan," he stated, as per FOX 35 Orlando.
