Santa Ana Police Credit Concerned Citizens For Helping Stop Sexual Molestation Of 4-Year-Old Boy

SANTA ANA (CBSLA.com) —  The Santa Ana Police Department is crediting two concerned citizens for thwarting the sexual molestation of a 4-year-old boy.

Police said the boy and several family members were celebrating a birthday at Jerome Park Wednesday around 8:15 p.m.

The boy and other children were on the playground. The boy's mother briefly lost sight of her child and began a search for him, authorities said.

After a few minutes, the boy's mother called police. Officials immediately responded to help in the search.

Quick-thinking police quickly broadcast the boy's description and sent word to the Orange County Sheriff's Department. The OCSD Air Support Helicopter broadcast the boy's description.

Authorities said the boy was accompanied by Armando Torreblanca Núñez, 28, of Santa Ana. The citizens confronted Nunez who they said allegedly tried to flee the scene. The citizens held Nunez and called police.

CBS2 was there when the boy and his mother were reunited.

Authorities said they found evidence that showed Nunez intended to kidnap and sexually assault the child.

Nunez was booked into the Santa Ana Detention Facility on charges of kidnap for the purpose of a lewd act with a child, lewd act with a child, and kidnap.

The Santa Ana Police Department wanted to publicly commend the actions of the two Good Samaritans.

CBS2's Peter Daut on Thursday spoke to one of the Good Samaritans about saving the boy.

Miguel Luna works at an electronics store about a quarter mile from the park.  He said Núñez approached him with the crying boy by his side.

"He was asking me if he could have $1 for the kid to buy some chips," said Núñez.

He soon realized the boy matched the description of the missing child. He and his boss went looking for Núñez and the boy and said he found them in a nearby grocery store.

The boy's family came to the store to personally thank the men for saying the boy.

They also shared photos of the boy -- his name is Anthony -- and told Daut he was fine, home smiling and not harmed.

"We thank God that he is safe and sound and with the mom back, back at home," said a family member.

Police said Nunez has lived in several Orange County Cities, including Santa Ana, Orange, Irvine and Tustin. They asked the public to call them if they believe he suspect Nunez in any illegal activity, If so, please call the Santa Ana Police Detectives at (714) 245-8343 or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.