Man Arrested For Attempting To Kidnap Child From San Merano Playground
Joseph Gibson Charged With Kidnapping
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2023) — A Palm Beach Gardens man was arrested after a witness stopped him from kidnapping a 4-year-old child from a playground in a Palm Beach Gardens apartment complex.
Palm Beach Gardens Police responded to the San Merano apartment complex at 7 PM on Sunday, May 21st, 2023 in response to a disturbance. Officers quickly learned that the disturbance was actually a kidnapping suspect being held by witnesses while they waited for Police.
According to an arrest affidavit, when police arrived, Joseph Gibson, 37, was in the custody of a witness who had admitted to punching Gibson, in self-defense. Witnesses say that Gibson walked into the playground located in the San Merano apartment complex, where he lives, and picked up the 4-year-old boy with both arms. Gibson was seen trying to carry the kid out of the playground.
The boy was just playing with his sister when she started screaming for her parents to come help. The parents then found the boy wrapped in Gibson’s arms as he was trying to leave the park. A parent then ripped the boy from Gibson’s grip.
Gibson then exited the park when he ran into another man who said he didn’t know what Gibson was going to do next. The man said that he then punched Gibson in self-defense. The man kept custody of Gibson until the Police showed up and arrested him.
Gibson identified himself to the Police as “deez nutts”, when they asked for his name. For that, he faces 1 charge of resisting / obstruction without violence.
Gibson was transferred to a local hospital and then arrested by the Palm Beach Gardens Police and charged with the following:
- 787.02(1B) FALSE IMPRISONMENTCHILD UNDER 13 YEARS OF AGE
- 827.03(2C) CHILD ABUSE
- 843.02 RESIST/OBSTRUCT OFFICER WITHOUT VIOLENCE