South Carolina Man Out on Bond for Indecent Exposure Accused of Attempting to Kidnap Child Walking to School With Her Mother

A South Carolina man has been arrested after he allegedly tried to kidnap a young girl as she made her way to school with her mother, according to authorities.

Around 7 a.m. on Aug. 16, the mother was walking her children to school in Greenville, according to WYFF.

A man, later identified as 66-year-old Robert Daniel Mistretta, approached the family and grabbed the child before attempting to pull her away, authorities said.

Lt. Ryan Flood told WYFF, "Thankfully, the mother was able to gain control of the child and walk away to safety without any injuries.”

Police started canvassing the area and were able to locate Mistretta nearby, who matched the witness’s description, officials said.

Officers found the child’s student ID in Mistretta’s possession, which they determined was torn from the child’s lanyard during the struggle, according to authorities.

Mistretta was arrested and charged with kidnapping, officials said.

The suspect was denied bond, and authorities said he was already out on bond for an indecent exposure charge stemming from an alleged May 1 incident.

“It was pretty scary," a parent to two current students at Westcliffe Elementary School told WYFF. "You know it kind of hit too close to home for me because my kids actually do walk every single day to school and home from school, so it really did make me concerned.”

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In a statement from Westcliffe Elementary School, principal Beth Farmer said, "Everything is safe at the school…While this occurred off campus, we want to make sure you're aware of what happened and remind parents to stay vigilant while on the way to school. The safety of students and staff is our top priority."