MERCED – Officers with the Merced Police Department arrested a 65-year-old man accused of kidnapping an eight-year-old child Wednesday afternoon.
At about 3:45pm Wednesday afternoon officers with the Merced Police Department responded to Rahilly Park for a report of a possible child kidnapping. The parents reported their eight-year-old child was at Rahilly Park when a transient man approached her and forced her inside his tent. The tent was located along a bike path near the park.
Police said the child was able to escape uninjured and returned home. Police searched the area and located 65-year-old Rolando Gonzalez. He was arrested and booked into the Merced County Jail on charges including kidnapping and annoying/molesting a child.
Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Officer Hernandez at (209) 385-6912 or the tip line at (209) 385-4725 where callers can remain anonymous.
