Coastland Center snatching suspect faces kidnapping charge

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Donald Emerson Hayes, 46, of the 2000 block of Airport-Pulling Road S. in East Naples. (Photo via CCSO)

NAPLES, Fla. The man accused of taking a 6-year-old boy away from his family at the Coastland Center mall is now facing a kidnapping charge.

Donald Emerson Hayes, 46, of the 2000 block of Airport-Pulling Road S. in East Naples, originally faced only a battery charge. He’s accused of picking up the boy and briefly carrying him away before putting him back down when commanded by the boy’s mother.

Hayes was arrested Saturday shortly after the encounter. He waived his right to appear Monday before a judge, who set his bond at $100,000. Hayes remains in jail with his next court date set for June 12.

He acted high and followed the family around the mall, Egger said. He offered them $100 to talk to him before he grabbed the boy, Egger said.

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