Good Samaritan rushes to rescue when boy selling water is kidnapped, FL cops say

A brazen kidnapping ended in an equally daring rescue when a Good Samaritan reached into the suspect’s car and pulled a 9-year-old boy to safety, according to investigators in North Florida.

It happened Friday, June 27, in Jacksonville and the boy was not injured, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said in a July 3 news release.

“A 9-year-old boy was selling water along the roadside when a woman ... stopped and tried to lure him into her car. When he refused, she got out, pulled the child into her vehicle, and drove off,” the sheriff’s office reports.

“A family friend of the victim witnessed the kidnapping as it happened and followed the suspect’s vehicle to West 45th Street. When it stopped, the witness acted quickly, removing the child from the car and blocking the vehicle in until officers arrived.”

Mikaya Williams, 22, was arrested at the scene, “and the child was safely returned to his family,” officials said.

Williams was charged with felony kidnapping, officials said.

Details of a motive were not released.

Investigators did not release the identity of the boy’s rescuer.

“JSO thanks the heroic witness who stepped in and helped rescue the child from a dangerous situation,” the sheriff’s office said.

This story was originally published July 7, 2025 at 7:53 AM with the headline "Good Samaritan rushes to rescue when boy selling water is kidnapped, FL cops say."