Freddie quickly caught up with the suspect, and the situation escalated into violence. The stranger had handcuffs wound around his fist, intending to use them as makeshift brass knuckles. Freddie, driven by reflex and the instinct to protect himself and his child, took immediate action.
“He tried to swing at me with handcuffs wrapped around his fingers and try to use them as brass knuckles, and that’s when I just took action and tried to knock him out,” Freddie explained to CBS News.
Soon after, the police arrived and successfully apprehended the suspect, identified as 26-year-old Yonel Hernandez-Velasco, on charges of assault with a deadly weapon and attempted kidnapping.
The incident left the community deeply disturbed, prompting increased vigilance at the park, particularly for those with children. A local mother expressed her concerns, saying, “You see the bad stuff on the news and hope it’s not going to happen to your kids, so you got to just keep an eye out, I guess.” Her 11-year-old son acknowledged the potential danger he might have faced, stating, “It’s better than me having to get kidnapped because I come here alone.”
Following the harrowing event, Audrey’s mother took to Facebook to share the incident, leading to widespread praise for Freddie’s protective instincts and swift response. However, Freddie humbly mentioned that he had simply acted as any father would in the same situation.
“They’re saying ‘Oh, you’re a hero for saving that little girl.’ Well, that little girl is my daughter, and I’m just doing the fatherly thing,” he stated