A carjacker abandoned a toddler on the side of the road in Florida after allegedly stealing the car of a mother who had just stepped out to exchange information following an accident.
Broward County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the suspect responsible for the alleged carjacking, Willio Petioma, 35, was arrested after an anonymous tip led to his arrest.
Authorities said the incident happened just before 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 26, when a call about a stolen vehicle was reported. in Oakland Park.
The preliminary investigation revealed that the victims, a mother and her 3-year-old daughter, were involved in a car accident with another vehicle.
Broward Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit detectives arrested the suspect who carjacked a woman’s car and drove off with her child in the back seat. (Broward County Sheriff’s Office)
When the mother got out of her car to exchange information with the other driver, an unknown adult male entered the driver’s side of her vehicle and began leave with your child inside, police said.
Investigators said the mother grabbed the front door of the vehicle and yelled at the suspect that her child was inside. The mother was then dragged before falling to the ground as Petioma drove away.
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Authorities said an anonymous tip helped identify the suspect, Willio Petioma, 35. (Broward County Sheriff’s Office)
Investigators obtained surveillance video from Petioma that captured the entire ordeal.
The video shows Petioma getting out of the vehicle with the child in the car seat. He then abandons him on the sidewalk.
Fortunately, some good Samaritans immediately approached the abandoned child.
Additional surveillance video shows Petioma abandoning the vehicle and then using the victim’s credit card at a Family Dollar store, police said.
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Good Samaritans step in after child left on side of road in Florida during carjacking. (Broward County Sheriff’s Office)
On Sunday, June 30, authorities said Petioma was taken into custody and booked into the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Main Jail.
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Authorities said he was charged with kidnapping, carjacking, interfering with the custody of a minor and unlawful use of a credit card. He was also arrested on a Palm Beach County warrant for possession of cocaine and resisting a police officer.
