A naked man was arrested Saturday evening in Portland, Oregon, after attempting to abduct a 7-year-old girl from her mother in Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Police received initial reports of a naked man running through the park around 7 p.m., with some callers reporting he had attempted to assault them.
About 12 minutes later, a second report indicated the suspect had grabbed the child and was trying to pull her away from her mother. Officers responded to the scene and found the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Daniel Vasey, swimming in the nearby Willamette River. He was arrested and subsequently booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Vasey faces charges including first and second-degree attempted kidnapping, first-degree custodial interference, third-degree assault, and harassment. The child sustained minor scratches but no serious injuries. She was evaluated by paramedics at the scene and did not require hospitalization.
An investigation revealed that Vasey grabbed the girl by the arm, while her parents and bystanders intervened. The girl's mother held onto her other arm to prevent the abduction. The struggle was significant enough to lift the child off the ground. The girl's father and several bystanders also engaged with Vasey, striking and pulling at him until he released the child. One bystander used pepper spray to keep the suspect away from the family.
The child and her family, who were visiting Portland from out of state, informed officers of the incident. Police stated that all available officers were responding to other calls at the time of the initial reports, leading to a delay in their arrival.