PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN 6) — A 45-year-old man who police said tried to kidnap a young girl from a Walmart in Vancouver was arrested late Saturday night, officials confirmed.
Steven Weslie Hayes was booked by Portland police at 12:38 a.m. on Sunday and is being held on a fugitive from justice warrant from Clark County, Washington.
Hayes was arrested at a residence in the southeast part of town after his landlord saw him on TV and called police.
“That was just a scary moment for me,” the landlord said. “I saw the shirt and they said the sandals and I was like boom, that’s him.”
Vancouver Police said their investigation started when officers were called to the Walmart on the 200 block of NE 104th around 3 p.m. Saturday after getting reports that a man tried to walk out of the store with a young girl.
The child was reportedly not hurt in the incident. Neither she nor her family know Hayes, police said. The child is now safe with her family.
Hayes allegedly took the young girl by the hand and led her through the store between check stands before scooping her up in his arms and walking out.
People began to notice when the girl started crying and squirming, police told KOIN 6 News. The girl’s mother ran toward the doors and Hayes dropped the girl and ran, police said.
According to court records, Hayes waived his right to an extradition hearing and will be transported back to Clark County. For security reasons, the sheriff’s office would not discuss a timeline.
Records show Hayes pled guilty to first-degree burglary in December 1990 following an incident in September of that year. Police reports from Lane County, Oregon were not immediately available.