Incident in Portland Park

A man was arrested in Portland, Oregon, for allegedly attempting to abduct a 7-year-old girl from her mother at Tom McCall Waterfront Park over the weekend, according to police reports.

Authorities received calls just before 7 p.m. on Saturday about a naked man running around the park. One person even mentioned that the man tried to strike him. At that moment, police were occupied with other incidents and couldn’t respond immediately.

About 12 minutes later, another caller informed the police that the man had grabbed the girl and was trying to pull her away from her mother.

When officers arrived, they found the suspect, identified as 31-year-old Daniel Basie, swimming in the nearby Willamette River. He was subsequently arrested and charged with multiple offenses: first- and second-degree attempted kidnapping, first-degree custodial interference, third-degree assault, and harassment.

Fortunately, the girl sustained no serious injuries. Paramedics assessed her at the scene and treated some minor abrasions, but she did not require an ambulance to the hospital.

Investigations revealed that Basie had grabbed the girl’s arm in an attempt to take her, which led to her parents and nearby witnesses intervening. In the struggle, the girl’s mother tried to pull her daughter back, but Basie lifted the girl off the ground.

The girl’s father, along with other bystanders, came to her aid by striking and pulling the suspect until he let go of the girl. At one point, someone even used pepper spray on him to help disperse him from the scene.

It’s worth noting that the girl and her family were visiting from out of state, enjoying their time in Portland.