Mother of girl in attempted kidnapping in Bronx says suspect 'not mentally OK'

SCHUYLERVILLE, Bronx (WABC) -- The mother of a 3-year-old girl snatched off a Bronx sidewalk as she walked with her grandmother is speaking out about the shocking incident.

Police say 27-year-old Santiago Salcedo grabbed the little girl at the intersection of Baisley Avenue and East Tremont Avenue near a BP gas station around 1:20 p.m. Monday.

Surveillance video captured the heart-stopping attempted kidnapping as eyewitnesses watched in horror.

Surveillance video captures a man attempting to kidnap a 3-year-old girl who was walking with her grandmother in the Bronx on Monday.

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"All of a sudden, this man just picked up the little girl, wrapped her in a blanket, and started running with her," gas station worker Fermin Bracero said. "He didn't get far because a lot of people tried to grab him."

Salcedo was arrested and charged with kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, unlawful imprisonment, and endangering the welfare of a child.

The girl's mother, though, said she doesn't want him to go to jail.

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He smiled as he was led out of the 45th Precinct in the Bronx Monday night.