Family dog stops man’s attempt to kidnap toddler from backyard, Florida cops say

A dog’s barking helped stop a man accused of trying to kidnap a 3-year-old boy from a backyard in Florida, authorities said.

Ronald Lee Klein Jr., 36, is charged with attempted kidnapping and trespassing, according to an affidavit from the St. Petersburg Police Department.

The afternoon of Dec. 27, Klein opened a gate leading to a stranger’s private backyard, grabbed a toddler by the arm and tried to pick him up, police said.

But the family’s dog started barking, alerting the mom to the incident, according to police.

She came running and yelled at the man, so he let go of the boy and fled, police said.

Officers reported Klein was captured on surveillance footage, and they found him shortly after the incident. He was booked on $151,000 bond, Pinellas County records show.

St. Petersburg is part of the Tampa Bay area.

This story was originally published December 30, 2024 at 1:41 PM with the headline "Family dog stops man’s attempt to kidnap toddler from backyard, Florida cops say."