A visit to Madison Park in Lakewood turned frightening on Friday when, according to police, a Cleveland man tried to grab a 2-year-old girl. Officers later found and arrested a suspect on a kidnapping charge, and authorities say the child was located safe and unharmed. City council members notified neighbors yesterday while investigators continued to dig into what happened.
What police say
Lakewood City Council President Sarah Kepple and Councilman Matt Bixenstine shared word of the incident yesterday, citing information from police. Capt. Frank Eschweiler told Cleveland 19 that officers were called to Madison Park after reports that a 35-year-old Cleveland man had tried to seize the toddler. The suspect was described as dressed in all black and heading south. Officers later located him and took him into custody on a kidnapping charge, the Lakewood Police Department said.
The scene
Madison Park stretches along Madison Avenue and is one of Lakewood’s larger neighborhood green spaces, with the city listing its address as 13201 Madison Ave. The park is a regular site for youth sports and community events, according to the City of Lakewood.
A troubling pattern
Madison Park has been the focus of a child-abduction scare before. In October 2021, witnesses reported that a man picked up a child during a youth soccer practice before bystanders intervened and restrained him, and police then filed charges, according to News 5 Cleveland. That episode sparked renewed calls for vigilance at local parks.
Legal stakes
The suspect in Friday’s incident is facing a kidnapping charge, which is treated as a serious crime under Ohio law. The state’s kidnapping statute, as per ORC 2905.01, lays out the legal definition and notes that kidnapping can be charged as a first-degree felony depending on factors such as the age of the victim or other aggravating circumstances.
How to help
Lakewood police say the investigation remains open and are asking anyone who may have seen something or has information to call the department’s non-emergency line at (216) 521-6773. The Lakewood Police Department’s website lists Detective Bureau contact details and additional ways to report tips, according to the Lakewood Police Department.
