Miami-Dade, FL – A 6-year-old boy named Jake Rivera was enjoying a game of soccer outside his home in Miami-Dade on Saturday afternoon. His 15-year-old brother stepped inside for a quick bathroom break, as reported by NBC Miami.
At that moment, Jose Reynaldo Martinez-Reyes, 56, reportedly approached Jake and suggested playing soccer together, with the video capturing their conversation and the two of them kicking the ball around, according to the source.
A video and police reports indicate that the unknown individual placed his hand on the boy’s head and guided him away, assuring him of a toy purchase.
“The guy came over to me and said, ‘Do you wanna come with me?’ And I said sure,” the little boy told NBC.
Fortunately, Jake’s older brother quickly noticed his absence and alerted the adults, prompting a desperate search effort.
Martinez-Reyes was discovered strolling hand-in-hand with Jake roughly a mile away, only for the alleged kidnapper to assert in Spanish that the boy was his son and attempt to take him away, according to the family.
According to their cousin Alfredo Velasquez, Jake’s older brother intervened by pushing him and throwing a punch, all to retaliate against him before placing him in the car.
They restrained Martinez-Reyes, who authorities indicated had no ties to the boy.
“We have no idea at this point what that subject’s intention was with a 6-year-old boy, but as one can imagine, it probably was not anything good,” Andre Martin, a Miami-Dade police spokesperson, told News 7 Miami.
Martinez-Reyes, lacking identification and refusing to communicate with authorities regarding the situation, was taken into custody and faces charges of kidnapping and interference with custody. As of Monday, no bond has been established.
Relatives expressed that Jake remains unsettled — and possesses a kindness that may be excessive.
“He doesn’t care who you are. If you are nice with him, he will be nice to you and that was always my fear,” said Velasquez, his cousin.
“It just takes one second or one moment for just anybody to just grab your kid and leave.”