Family Sends Warning, Fears Kidnapper Could Come Back

Courtney Francisco,

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CHARLOTTE, NC — Police have arrested a man they say abducted a little girl in broad daylight Saturday.

Jose Garcia, 41, is in jail for abduction of a child, kidnapping and breaking and entering after police arrested him in the Lake Mist Apartment complex minutes after the reported kidnapping.

Instincts kicked in, even for a 13-year-old, when Consuelo Miranda says she first noticed Garcia watching her play with her little brothers and sister around 2:30 pm.Β 
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She says he walked up and asked her to take his phone number.
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“I’m scared, and I tell my brothers come here and come here,” said Miranda.
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The kids ran home, but her six-year-old sister went back where she says Garcia met her with a promise of toys.
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“He tells her, I have toys for you, and I want to play with you.’ and she go,” said Miranda.
Police say Garcia forced her into the window of a vacant apartment, where she says he put her in a closet.
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“The predator loco,” said Meysi Miranda, the victim’s mother.
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She called police minutes after her daughter vanished.
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Family says Garcia was alone with the girl for 15 minutes. Β Neighbors ran around, yelling her name. When he heard that, the little girl says he let her go. What happened in that 15 minutes, the family isn’t sure.
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Police arrested Garcia in the complex after the family says the little girl pointed him out to police.Β Now they’re warning others.
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“Stay focused on your daughters,” said Meysi Miranda.Β 
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She says it is terrible to lose a child.
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Garcia’s charges of kidnapping and child abduction are punishable by up to $100,000 fine and more than five years in prison.
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Still, the family plans to move, worried he could come back.Β 
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Garcia did have two prior arrests relating to impaired driving dating back to 2014.