Boy, 12, jumps from moving car during suspected abduction
A 12-year-old boy in Florida jumped from a moving vehicle to save himself from a suspected kidnapper.
According to the Boynton Beach Police report, the child sustained minor abrasions on this forehead, arms and hands and the alleged kidnapper has been identified as Timothy H. Miller.
Miller resisted arrest and will face multiple charges, including kidnapping and child neglect.
The boy was approached by Miller and offered a ride, while he was walking home from school on Wednesday.
According to the police report, Miller thought the 12-year-old boy was 14 to 16 years old and approached him to inquire about purchasing illegal drugs.
Miller told the boy he gives kids rides all the time and he “won't do anything weird” and began to smile at the boy.
While the boy said Miller seemed nice at first, he became uncomfortable when he started asking if the boy had any drugs and looked at him “strangely”. According to the police report, Miller began to drive “erratically” and almost ran off the roadway.
The boy told police he tried to open the passenger door, and Miller allegedly said he couldn’t leave.
Eventually the boy got the door open and jumped from Miller’s white pick-up truck, after Miller sped up. The child reportedly hit his head on the pavement as he jumped from the vehicle and temporarily lost consciousness.
Two “Good Samaritans” who witnessed the child jump from the car and went to his aid told police Miller did not stop when the boy made his desperate exit from the speeding vehicle.
The two witnesses then followed Miller and were able to block his vehicle until police arrived on the scene.
Miller was violent towards the two witnesses and resisted the officer’s attempts to detain him. Eventually Miller was taken into custody.
One of the witnesses has been identified as delivery driver, Angel Perez who acted without hesitation.
“I had to, it’s in my blood,” he told NBC News. “I got to help people, I like helping people.”
Mr Perez was on the phone to 911 while he chased Miller down and apprehended him.
Boynton Beach Police thanked the “Good Samaritans” who assisted in the arrest of Miller.
“We encourage parents to use this as an opportunity to remind their children about the dangers of getting into a car with someone they do not know,” Boyton Beach Police said on Facebook.
The child has not been identified by police.
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