A man who allegedly tried to kidnap a child in a brazen daylight attack in Melbourne’s inner city has been charged and released on bail.
Police allege two boys, aged five and 14, were walking along Eldridge St in Footscray at around 3.50pm on March 25 when a 32-year-old man approached them and attempted to pick up the younger boy.
The teenager tried to stop the man and was allegedly assaulted.
In an earlier statement, Victoria Police said a nearby neighbor saw the incident unfold and shouted at the man to put the child down.
The youngest child was unharmed in the incident, while the 14-year-old suffered minor injuries.
The man was arrested at a Footscray address on Wednesday morning and charged with attempted child theft, common law assault and reckless wounding.
He was released on bail to appear at Melbourne Magistrates Court on June 21.
