BEAUMONT, Texas — A Beaumont man is currently in the Jefferson County Jail on a $500,000 bond after he allegedly tried to kidnap a woman and her two children.
The attempted kidnapping happened on Sunday, June 12. Beaumont Police were sent to Parkdale Mall after receiving a call about a “weapons offense," shortly before 10 a.m.
A witness called police stating a man was threatening a woman and her two children with a knife and forcing them to leave the mall with him, according to a Beaumont Police Department release. The man was later identified as Robert Cardinale, 65, of Beaumont.
Officers got to the scene within two minutes of receiving the call. They found Cardinale and took him into custody.
The victims said they did not know Cardinale and had never seen him before the incident.
Cardinale was taken to the Jefferson County Jail and charged with aggravated kidnapping, according to jail records.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.
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From a Beaumont Police Department:
On Sunday, June 12, 2022 at 9:49 a.m., Beaumont Police responded to Parkdale Mall (6155 Eastex) in reference to a Weapons Offense. A witness called police stating that a man was threatening a woman and her two children with a knife and forcing them to leave the mall with him. BPD Officers arrived on scene within 2 minutes of the call and located the suspect and the victims in the parking lot and took the suspect into custody. The suspect was identified as Robert Cardinale, a 65 year old Beaumont resident. The victims did not know Cardinale and had never seen him before the incident.
The Beaumont Police Department would like to thank the vigilant citizen who called police and helped save the victims. Additional witnesses were present at the food court during the incident and Detectives are asking anyone with information to call Detective Sgt. Borrero at 409-832-7190. The suspect was transported to the Jefferson County Jail and charged with Aggravated Kidnapping. The investigation is on-going.
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