Man arrested after grabbing, pulling on young boy’s arm at motel

Modesto Police on Tuesday night arrested a man suspected of attempting to kidnap a 3-year-old boy from a motel parking lot.

The boy and his father were at the Tiki Lodge on McHenry Avenue at about 7:20 p.m. when the father noticed a man acting suspiciously, walking around the parking lot picking up cigarette butts, said Modesto Police spokeswoman Heather Graves.

The father began walking toward the motel office to report the man when he heard his son scream.

The boy said the man grabbed him by the arm began pulling him, Graves said.

When the boy screamed the man let go and walked away from the motel. Officers found him a few blocks away.

Steven Wayne Tackett, 58, was arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnapping.

This story was originally published November 9, 2016 at 4:31 PM with the headline "Man arrested after grabbing, pulling on young boy’s arm at motel."