A 51-year-old man was arrested on Long Island, accused of trying to kidnap an 11-year-old boy by luring him with money.
Nelson Acevedo approached the child walking along Chester Street in Uniondale and attempted to entice him into a nearby home, authorities said. Security video shows Acevedo walking along the street moments before the alleged encounter.
According to court documents, prosecutors say Acevedo called out “mommy, mommy” to the boy and blew kisses at him before offering money.
“I will give you one-hundred dollars to come inside the house,” Acevedo allegedly told the boy.
Police said the situation escalated when the boy tried to get away and Acevedo allegedly grabbed his wrist.
“He grabbed a hold of his arm at one point, trying to stop him from trying to get away. When the kid went away, he squeezed harder and tried to take him with him,” Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder said.
The child managed to break free and was seen on surveillance video walking toward Front Street, looking back at one point to see if he was being followed before heading home. His parents later contacted police, prompting an investigation.
On Wednesday, an observant gas station worker recognized Acevedo while he was pumping gas and called police. Video from the station showed detectives approach Acevedo at the pump and speaking with him before taking him into custody about an hour later.
Acevedo lives about a block away — where there are two schools near Chester Street. Police urged people to exercise caution.
“It’s pretty scary to appear when something like this happens so we make sure we put the resources and will be doubling down now as we head towards the end of the school season,” Ryder said.
Investigators say they want the public to be aware of what Acevedo looks like, adding this may not be an isolated incident. Police are urging anyone who may have had a similar encounter to come forward.
This story was originally reported for broadcast by NBC New York. AI tools helped convert the story to a digital article, and an NBC New York journalist edited the article for publication.