Sex offender attempting to kidnap 2 children at park thwarted by family, bystanders

LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (FOX 11) - A 29-year-old Lake Elsinore man is behind bars Monday following an attempted child abduction in the city of Lake Elsinore.

Police say at about 11:30 a.m., Marcus DeWitt tried grabbing a 3-year-old child by the arm in the play area at the Rosetta Canyon Sports Park located at 44419 Ardenwood Way, but the child was partially inside of playground equipment and DeWitt was unsuccessful.

DeWitt then picked up a 4-year-old child and attempted to run away with him but the child's parents were able to catch up with the suspect and wrestle the child out of his grasp, according to Lake Elsinore police.

DeWitt tried to get away but a family member of the child held the suspect down until police arrived, police said.

Authorities say DeWitt is a registered sex offender and was booked at the Cois Byrd Detention Center on kidnapping charges.

Neither of the children was injured during the incident, police said.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call Investigator Matt Posson with the Lake Elsinore Police Department at 951-245-3300.