Law enforcement works with concerned citizens to stop a sexual predator

(CNS/FOX 11) - A 28-year-old Santa Ana man was behind bars today on suspicion of abducting a 4-year-old boy from a family picnic.

Armando Torreblanca Nunez, who listed his occupation as "caregiver," was being held on $1 million bail, according to Santa Ana police Cpl. Anthony Bertagna.

Nunez was booked Wednesday night on suspicion of kidnapping for the purpose of committing a lewd act on a child, lewd act on a child and kidnapping, Bertagna said.

The boy and his family were at a birthday party at Jerome Park when he went missing about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, Bertagna said. When his mom could not find him, she called police.

An Orange County Sheriff's Department helicopter broadcast a message to the community, via its public address system, that described what the boy was wearing, Bertagna said.

An employee of an electronics store, who had given $1 to Nunez when he asked for a buck for his "kid," heard the police broadcast and felt Nunez might be the suspect, Bertagna said. He told his boss, who confronted Nunez is
a market near the electronics store.

"He says, `Is this your child?"' Bertagna said. "When he says, `no,' he takes the kid away from the guy, who tries to walk away, and they detain him until we get there."

Investigators believe the quick action by the citizens kept Nunez from sexually assaulting the boy, Bertagna said.