Topline: Deputies say the father was injured while preventing the alleged abduction, but the child was unharmed.
Published: January 6, 2026 1:36 pm ET
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Surveillance images released in connection with the incident. (via WCSO Cornelius Police)
CORNELIUS, OR — An Oregon man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he tried to pull a child from a stroller inside a Walmart while armed with a knife, an incident that unfolded in front of the child’s family just days before Christmas.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Cornelius police, deputies and officers from Hillsboro, Beaverton and Forest Grove responded to the Walmart at 220 N. Adair Street just before 8 p.m. on Dec. 21 after a 911 caller reported an attempted kidnapping inside the store.
The caller said a man tried to take their child from a stroller and was armed with a knife, according to a sheriff’s office media release.
Investigators said the child’s father intervened and stopped the man from grabbing the child, but was injured during the confrontation. As the two struggled, the suspect pulled a knife from his pocket but dropped it, according to the sheriff’s office. The severity of the father’s injuries was not released, KPTV reported.
Authorities said the suspect fled the store before deputies arrived, leaving the area in a white Jeep. A witness was able to provide the vehicle’s license plate number, which helped officers identify the suspect as the registered owner of the Jeep, 37-year-old Denis Villalobos of Cornelius, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Villalobos was located a short distance from the Walmart and arrested by a Forest Grove police officer. He was later lodged in the Washington County Jail, authorities said.
On Dec. 29, a Washington County grand jury heard evidence in the case and returned an indictment charging Villalobos with attempted kidnapping in the second degree, assault in the second degree, assault in the fourth degree, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing, according to the sheriff’s office. KOIN and KPTV both reported the indictment followed the multi-agency investigation into the incident.
WCSO Corporal David Huey said investigators believe Villalobos had been watching the family inside the store before the attempted kidnapping. “He looks like he’s staring at the child as the family walks by. And they don’t even know who he is,” Huey said, according to KOIN. “It’s almost as if the suspect was stalking them in a sense.”
The child’s mother told KOIN the incident was frightening but expressed appreciation for the police response. “It’s kind of scary. Especially the fact that he lives around this neighborhood,” she said. “It’s actually nice to live in a small community where we have the police department around the area doing their job and very close by. So we’re, we’re very thankful for that.”
Court records show Villalobos had been arrested twice in the weeks leading up to the Walmart incident on harassment and trespassing charges, according to KPTV.
Cornelius police are asking anyone who witnessed the attempted kidnapping and has not yet spoken with investigators to contact the Cornelius Police Department through non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 and reference case number 57-25-1325.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Published: January 6, 2026 1:36 pm ET
Surveillance images released in connection with the incident. (via WCSO Cornelius Police)
CORNELIUS, OR — An Oregon man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he tried to pull a child from a stroller inside a Walmart while armed with a knife, an incident that unfolded in front of the child’s family just days before Christmas.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Cornelius police, deputies and officers from Hillsboro, Beaverton and Forest Grove responded to the Walmart at 220 N. Adair Street just before 8 p.m. on Dec. 21 after a 911 caller reported an attempted kidnapping inside the store.
The caller said a man tried to take their child from a stroller and was armed with a knife, according to a sheriff’s office media release.
Investigators said the child’s father intervened and stopped the man from grabbing the child, but was injured during the confrontation. As the two struggled, the suspect pulled a knife from his pocket but dropped it, according to the sheriff’s office. The severity of the father’s injuries was not released, KPTV reported.
Authorities said the suspect fled the store before deputies arrived, leaving the area in a white Jeep. A witness was able to provide the vehicle’s license plate number, which helped officers identify the suspect as the registered owner of the Jeep, 37-year-old Denis Villalobos of Cornelius, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Villalobos was located a short distance from the Walmart and arrested by a Forest Grove police officer. He was later lodged in the Washington County Jail, authorities said.
On Dec. 29, a Washington County grand jury heard evidence in the case and returned an indictment charging Villalobos with attempted kidnapping in the second degree, assault in the second degree, assault in the fourth degree, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing, according to the sheriff’s office. KOIN and KPTV both reported the indictment followed the multi-agency investigation into the incident.
WCSO Corporal David Huey said investigators believe Villalobos had been watching the family inside the store before the attempted kidnapping. “He looks like he’s staring at the child as the family walks by. And they don’t even know who he is,” Huey said, according to KOIN. “It’s almost as if the suspect was stalking them in a sense.”
The child’s mother told KOIN the incident was frightening but expressed appreciation for the police response. “It’s kind of scary. Especially the fact that he lives around this neighborhood,” she said. “It’s actually nice to live in a small community where we have the police department around the area doing their job and very close by. So we’re, we’re very thankful for that.”
Court records show Villalobos had been arrested twice in the weeks leading up to the Walmart incident on harassment and trespassing charges, according to KPTV.
Cornelius police are asking anyone who witnessed the attempted kidnapping and has not yet spoken with investigators to contact the Cornelius Police Department through non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 and reference case number 57-25-1325.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Father Fights Off Suspect During Attempted Kidnapping Inside Walmart
Deputies say the father was injured while preventing the alleged abduction, but the child was unharmed.
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 6, 2026 1:36 pm ET
Surveillance images released in connection with the incident. (via WCSO Cornelius Police)
CORNELIUS, OR — An Oregon man is facing multiple felony charges after authorities say he tried to pull a child from a stroller inside a Walmart while armed with a knife, an incident that unfolded in front of the child’s family just days before Christmas.
According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and Cornelius police, deputies and officers from Hillsboro, Beaverton and Forest Grove responded to the Walmart at 220 N. Adair Street just before 8 p.m. on Dec. 21 after a 911 caller reported an attempted kidnapping inside the store.
The caller said a man tried to take their child from a stroller and was armed with a knife, according to a sheriff’s office media release.
Investigators said the child’s father intervened and stopped the man from grabbing the child, but was injured during the confrontation. As the two struggled, the suspect pulled a knife from his pocket but dropped it, according to the sheriff’s office. The severity of the father’s injuries was not released, KPTV reported.
Authorities said the suspect fled the store before deputies arrived, leaving the area in a white Jeep. A witness was able to provide the vehicle’s license plate number, which helped officers identify the suspect as the registered owner of the Jeep, 37-year-old Denis Villalobos of Cornelius, according to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
Villalobos was located a short distance from the Walmart and arrested by a Forest Grove police officer. He was later lodged in the Washington County Jail, authorities said.
On Dec. 29, a Washington County grand jury heard evidence in the case and returned an indictment charging Villalobos with attempted kidnapping in the second degree, assault in the second degree, assault in the fourth degree, unlawful use of a weapon and menacing, according to the sheriff’s office. KOIN and KPTV both reported the indictment followed the multi-agency investigation into the incident.
WCSO Corporal David Huey said investigators believe Villalobos had been watching the family inside the store before the attempted kidnapping. “He looks like he’s staring at the child as the family walks by. And they don’t even know who he is,” Huey said, according to KOIN. “It’s almost as if the suspect was stalking them in a sense.”
The child’s mother told KOIN the incident was frightening but expressed appreciation for the police response. “It’s kind of scary. Especially the fact that he lives around this neighborhood,” she said. “It’s actually nice to live in a small community where we have the police department around the area doing their job and very close by. So we’re, we’re very thankful for that.”
Court records show Villalobos had been arrested twice in the weeks leading up to the Walmart incident on harassment and trespassing charges, according to KPTV.
Cornelius police are asking anyone who witnessed the attempted kidnapping and has not yet spoken with investigators to contact the Cornelius Police Department through non-emergency dispatch at 503-629-0111 and reference case number 57-25-1325.
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
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