Incident at Virginia Mall Involves 3-Year-Old and Man with Troubled Past

A man diagnosed with schizophrenia, who has a history of violent behavior, was seen taking a 3-year-old girl at the Virginia Mall before being stopped by her mother, as captured by surveillance footage.

Andres Caceres Jaldin, 26, was recorded carrying the child around the Fair Oaks Shopping Center after she wandered away from an indoor play area on July 18, according to security footage released by the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office.

Meanwhile, the girl’s frantic father was observing his daughter and attempting to reach his wife, who was shopping at a nearby store.

Fortunately, the mother spotted Jaldin with her daughter upstairs and confronted him. According to court documents, Jaldin claimed he meant to help the girl find her parents.

Before escaping the mall in a stolen vehicle, he returned the child safely.

Law enforcement later located the stolen car at a hotel in Chantilly, where Jaldin was arrested.

Jaldin’s criminal history includes a record of violent assaults against his family, as indicated by court documents.

Last year, he was charged with multiple counts of assault and battery, as well as property damage related to attacks on his family members.

While awaiting trial on those charges, he allegedly assaulted his family again.

He received a schizophrenia diagnosis after a psychiatric evaluation as part of a criminal case, as reported by NBC Washington.

Fortunately, the toddler was unharmed during the incident. Jaldin is now facing charges for the attempted abduction and grand larceny stemming from this unsettling event.

He is currently held at the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center.