Louisville Metro Police Department/YouTube
July 9, 2021, 9:18 am*
On July 2, a six-year-old girl in Louisville, Kentucky, was snatched off her bike by a kidnapper—but some quick-thinking witnesses took in enough details about his car and jotted down a partial license plate, allowing police to instigate an almost immediate rescue. Officer Jason Burba caught the dramatic moments with his bodycam, and the footage was posted on the YouTube channel for the Louisville Metro Police Department, according to the Courier-Journal.
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The girl was riding a bike in front of her house in the suburban neighborhood when 40-year-old Robby Wildt pulled up in a red Dodge Charger, grabbed her, and quickly drove off. The incident was witnessed by the girl’s neighbor Prentiss Weatherford. Weatherford told reporters that the man snatched her “by the collar, threw the bike, put her in the passenger seat, and then took off.”
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Weatherford and his dad jumped in their own car to chase them, taking down the license plate number. As they drove they met up with Burba, who had been summoned to the scene by a 911 call.
“You just can’t get there fast enough,” said Officer Burba. “Seconds feel like hours. Your only thought is getting there as fast as you can.”
The bodycam footage shows Burba approaching the discovered Dodger with his gun drawn, ordering Wildt to open the passenger door.
“I want my daddy,” the little girl says. The whole incident was over less than a half-hour due to the quick thinking and action of people at the scene.
“Although we do not want the community to be alarmed, this is certainly an educational opportunity for parents to remind their children that ‘stranger danger’ is real. It is important to talk to your kids about any adult who tries to use a ruse to lure them to their vehicles or away from public view,” said police spokesperson Beth Ruoff said.
Wildt was charged with kidnapping a minor and has pleaded not guilty. His bond is set at $1 million.
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H/T The Courier-Journal
*First Published: July 9, 2021, 9:17 am
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